dustier; dustiest
1
: covered or abounding with dust
2
: consisting of dust : powdery
3
: resembling dust
4
: lacking vitality : dry
dusty scholarship
5
British : unsatisfactory
used especially in the phrases dusty answer and not so dusty
dustily adverb
dustiness noun

Examples of dusty in a Sentence

He pulled dusty candlesticks from the shelf. His new tie is a dusty blue.
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.
The landscape is filled with dusty mountains, misty horizons, and, sometimes, desolate and dead hills. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025 The new formal name, Cherax pulverulentus, means dusty crayfish in Latin, in homage to the crustacean’s dotted exoskeleton. Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Jan. 2025 Still, there are some who firmly believe that the best Herradura tequila can be found in the dusty bottles that were produced before the turn of the century. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 29 Jan. 2025 Poor Ventilation Along with the increase in moisture and humidity, another leading cause for a dusty bathroom is poor ventilation. Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 28 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for dusty 

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dusty was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near dusty

Cite this Entry

“Dusty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dusty. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

dusty

adjective
dustier; dustiest
1
: filled or covered with dust
2
: resembling dust
dusty soil
dustily adverb
dustiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on dusty

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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