sooty

adjective

ˈsu̇-tē How to pronounce sooty (audio)
ˈsə-,
ˈsü-
sootier; sootiest
1
a
: of, relating to, or producing soot
b
: soiled with soot
2
: of the color of soot
sootily
ˈsu̇-tə-lē How to pronounce sooty (audio)
ˈsə-
ˈsü-
adverb
sootiness
ˈsu̇-tē-nəs How to pronounce sooty (audio)
ˈsə-
ˈsü-
noun

Examples of sooty in a Sentence

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.
Black carbon is a dark, sooty byproduct of burning fossil fuels. Jillian Mock, Discover Magazine, 17 Sep. 2019 By the closer — a grim, sooty final reckoning with the events of June 13 — the colourful escapism of the Uphaar’s Bollywood posters suddenly looks half a world away. Mike McCahill, Variety, 17 Jan. 2023 The research team who made this discovery, which was described in the journal Animal Behaviour, studied vervet monkeys and sooty mangabeys in the Ivory Coast's Tai National Park. Jennifer Welsh, Discover Magazine, 9 Nov. 2010 Its borders seem to expand as trash bags begin appearing on the Badris’ property, and shots of swarming flies and sooty skies turn practically malevolent. Vulture, 16 July 2022 See all Example Sentences for sooty 

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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

Dictionary Entries Near sooty

Cite this Entry

“Sooty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sooty. Accessed 18 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

sooty

adjective
ˈsu̇t-ē How to pronounce sooty (audio)
ˈsət-,
ˈsüt-
sootier; sootiest
1
a
: of, relating to, or producing soot
sooty fires
b
: soiled with soot
sooty buildings
2
: of the color of soot
sooty birds
sootiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sooty

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!