dusty

adjective

ˈdə-stē 

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

ˈdə-stə-lē 

adverb

dustiness

ˈdə-stē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• fine
• floury
• powdery

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

At least the Covid-19 pandemic is just a dusty blip in the rear-view mirror. —Forrest Brown, CNN, 30 June 2024

The horizon is made hazy with dusty air—a consequence of high levels of pollution. —Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 29 June 2024

Sure, the same grid of tiny holes that boosts the H7 Flow’s look and airflow will act as a visible dust trap, at least in certain dusty environments. —PCMAG, 25 June 2024

Meridian looks like a film noir crime story, complete with shots in a dusty office with a fan in the background, a cloudy beach scene with glistening water, and a dark dream sequence that’s full of contrasts. —Janko Roettgers, The Verge, 22 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dusty

• dusty miller

Kids Definition

dusty

adjective

ˈdəs-tē 

dustier; dustiest

1

: filled or covered with dust

2

: resembling dust

dusty soil

dustily

-tə-lē 

adverb

dustiness

-tē-nəs 

noun