grungy

adjective

grun·​gy ˈgrən-jē How to pronounce grungy (audio)
grungier; grungiest
1
: shabby or dirty in character or condition
2
: characteristic of grunge music or fashion

Examples of grungy in a Sentence

After working in the garden all day, I felt sweaty and grungy. a grungy pair of jeans
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Stalter and Sharpe make a dynamic pair, surrounded by famous guest stars ranging from Rita Wilson to Naomi Watts to Dunham herself and set against a grungy London aesthetic. Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 11 July 2025 More toward the rowdy end are the closet-sized bars of Shinjuku’s Golden Gai, a warren of grungy alleys home to snug drinking holes with obscure themes and idiosyncratic bartender-owners. Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2025 As the 2000s set in, the artist’s style took on a more grungy approach. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 27 June 2025 The style can truly be paired with all hemline lengths, as well as ultra-feminine and grungy ‘fits both. Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for grungy

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grungy was in 1965

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Cite this Entry

“Grungy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grungy. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

grungy

adjective
grun·​gy ˈgrən-jē How to pronounce grungy (audio)
grungier; grungiest
: being in a shabby or dirty condition

More from Merriam-Webster on grungy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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