1
as in filthy
not clean
clean off those grubby hands before you touch anything
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2
as in dirty
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust
that's a grubby reason to stop talking to a friend
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Recent Examples of grubby
Any science that deserves its name is said to be vulnerable to tests that can falsify it, while philosophy aims for pristine truths that hover somewhere beyond the grubby reach of experiment.
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Quanta Magazine, 30 July 2024
His show of video, collage and sculpture, named after a popular African cleaning product, crashes together objects invoking the artist’s roots, migratory patterns and colonial history, often through the grubby materials of consumer culture.
—Teri Henderson, Washington Post, 24 July 2024
That fashion vibe, slightly disheveled and grungy, is nothing new for Bieber, of course; The pop star has been perfecting the art of being artfully grubby for years.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 2 July 2024
That approach to religion may feel crude to believers who see their personal faith as ineffable and not reducible to such grubby material terms.
—Shadi Hamid, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for grubby 
Quanta Magazine, 30 July 2024
His show of video, collage and sculpture, named after a popular African cleaning product, crashes together objects invoking the artist’s roots, migratory patterns and colonial history, often through the grubby materials of consumer culture.
—Teri Henderson, Washington Post, 24 July 2024
That fashion vibe, slightly disheveled and grungy, is nothing new for Bieber, of course; The pop star has been perfecting the art of being artfully grubby for years.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 2 July 2024
That approach to religion may feel crude to believers who see their personal faith as ineffable and not reducible to such grubby material terms.
—Shadi Hamid, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for grubby
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grubby
Adjective
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Keepin’ Tabs Hey speaking of Google, the company also announced some good news for all of us filthy browser tab hoarders.Boone Ashworth, WIRED, 14 Sep. 2024
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At the same time, this is a movie about a woman who begins craving raw meat, grows a few extra nipples, and wakes up every morning filthy from running around in the dirt all night.Joe Reid, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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Yes, but: Charlie Bailey, a former Fulton County gang prosecutor who ran for lieutenant governor as a Democrat in 2022, told Axios that the RICO law was created to catch leaders of criminal organizations who weren't doing the dirty work.Kristal Dixon, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
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Carbon emissions would increase because there is a dearth of renewables and the world would have to burn dirtier fossil fuels from non-Western entities.Dan Ikenson, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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In the heart of Ethiopia, the arrival of a sprawling industrial park finds a dusty farming town at the new frontier of globalization.Matthew Carey, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024
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Gold, cream, and dusty rose accents complete the room’s retro look.Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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By contrast, solar panels, wind turbines, and appliances like induction stoves only get better — more efficient and cheaper — with time.Matt Simon / Grist, Quartz, 12 Nov. 2024
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The standard plan with ads costs $6.99/month, less than half the cost of the regular standard plan ($15.49/month), and much cheaper than the top-tier premium plan ($22.99/month).Emily Dreibelbis Forlini, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.Kevin Fisher-Paulson, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 June 2021
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My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.Tim Neville, Outside Online, 23 Nov. 2020
Adjective
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In its time open, fueled by fans of its blackened mahi and buttery lobster rolls, owner Mike Smith has expanded his footprint, moving into a larger stall in the popular food hall — which has allowed for a menu expansion, as well.Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Dec. 2022
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There are no glamorous furnishings — just a French window, its blackened panes suggesting the dark of night.Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2022
Adjective
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Meanwhile, nearly one-third of election offices don’t have any full-time staff, wages are pitiful, and turnover rates grew from 28 percent in 2004—already high—to nearly 39 percent in 2022.Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2024
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The plight of Zimbabwe, moreover, remains pitiful, a once prosperous country not only reduced to economic ruin but also trapped in a culture of corruption and violence that Mugabe fostered since gaining power in 1980 and that is now deeply embedded among the ruling elite.Martin Meredith, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2018
Adjective
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In front of them, there’s a massive number 40 carved deep into a field, creating a dirty, muddy obstacle course.Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
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Being elevated adds a layer of comfort and peace of mind – no worrying about uneven terrain, muddy ground or things creeping in during the night.Fergus Scholes, theweek, 6 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Grubby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grubby. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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