dingy
Americanadjective
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of a dark, dull, or dirty color or aspect; lacking brightness or freshness.
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shabby; dismal.
adjective
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lacking light or brightness; drab
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dirty; discoloured
Other Word Forms
- dingily adverb
- dinginess noun
Etymology
Origin of dingy
First recorded in 1730–40; origin uncertain
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Then, after seeing the run-down buildings and strip malls in Somewhere, I expected a dingy motel, like a place where long-haul truckers would stay.
From Literature
We drive until all I can see is gray asphalt and dingy buildings.
From Literature
I slipped it under the edge of the dingy petticoat, trying to hide the ugly pink mark from her detection.
From Literature
As dispassionate buyers who paid cash and didn’t quibble over ugly paint or dingy carpet, they beat out regular buyers without having to outbid them.
Taylor is riding around on this kind of dingy bike, popping wheelies.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
