dingy

adjective

din·​gy ˈdin-jē How to pronounce dingy (audio)
dingier; dingiest
1
: dirty, unclean
dingy fingernails
2
: shabby, squalid
a dingy hotel room
dingily adverb
dinginess noun

Examples of dingy in a Sentence

He's been staying in a dingy motel. the bed sheets were pretty dingy so we threw them in the laundry pile
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Do not use more detergent than necessary, as detergent residue can lend the bag a dingy appearance. Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Oct. 2024 Confined to the dingy basement, the motley crew doesn’t get much respect, but their dynamic is hilariously relatable for anyone just trying to make it through the day in a dead-end office job. Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 27 Sep. 2024 Or swap a dingy old pullover for this oversized crewneck sweatshirt that’s equally comfortable but far more polished. Clara McMahon, People.com, 5 Oct. 2024 Using too much detergent can leave the backpack with soap residue, which lends a dingy appearance to the bag. 3. Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dingy 

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1691, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dingy was in 1691

Dictionary Entries Near dingy

Cite this Entry

“Dingy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dingy. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

dingy

adjective
din·​gy ˈdin-jē How to pronounce dingy (audio)
dingier; dingiest
: rather dark and dirty : not fresh or clean
a dingy room
dingy colors
dingily adverb
dinginess noun

More from Merriam-Webster on dingy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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