ashy
Americanadjective
-
ash-colored; pale; wan.
an ashy complexion.
-
of or resembling ashes.
an ashy residue.
-
sprinkled or covered with ashes.
adjective
-
of a pale greyish colour; ashen
-
consisting of, covered with, or resembling ash
Etymology
Origin of ashy
First recorded in 1350–1400, ashy is from the Middle English word asshy. See ash 1, -y 1
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.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Bessette’s former hair colorist, Brad Johns, reflected on the wig’s hair color as “burnt” and ashy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026
But the ongoing Eaton fire and its ashy aftermath don’t appear to be offering the ending the nursery’s owners had in mind.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 15, 2025
As the lava flowed, the volcano also unleashed a series of rare explosive blasts that sent ashy plumes rocketing thousands of meters skyward.
From Science Magazine • May 27, 2024
Cradled in the ashy scraps of garden, Gilad spots his grandson's football - preserved untouched beneath a layer of gritty soot.
From BBC • Oct. 31, 2023
His face was thin and his skin was ashy.
From "145th Street: Short Stories" by Walter Dean Myers
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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.