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Synonyms

cruddy

American  
[kruhd-ee] / ˈkrʌd i /

adjective

Slang.
cruddier, cruddiest
  1. covered, encrusted, or saturated with dirt, grease, or other objectionable substance; filthy.

    It gets the cruddiest work clothes clean.

  2. worthless or useless; inferior in quality; lousy.

    a cruddy, broken-down car.

  3. extremely disagreeable in character; nasty; contemptible; lowdown.

    Keep your cruddy remarks to yourself.


cruddy British  
/ ˈkrʌdɪ /

adjective

  1. dirty or unpleasant

  2. of poor quality; contemptible

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of cruddy

First recorded in 1945–50; crud + -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.

See Examples For:

“It’s a cruddy way to end it,” USC coach Andy Stankiewicz said.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 4, 2026

Having once dismissed the vice presidency as “a cruddy job,” Cheney, who served under Bush for two terms beginning in 2001, set out to make it count.

From The Wall Street Journal Nov. 4, 2025

I am a 25-year-old living with my parents working two cruddy, low-paying retail jobs.

From Slate Mar. 24, 2023

If you’re feeling really cruddy right now, join the crowd.

From Seattle Times Oct. 12, 2022

Got food turning cruddy in my gut before I get to eat much of it.

From "The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle" by Leslie Connor

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