earthy

[ ur-thee ]

/ ˈɜr θi /

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adjective, earth·i·er, earth·i·est.

of the nature of or consisting of earth or soil.

characteristic of earth: an earthy smell.

realistic; practical.

coarse or unrefined: an earthy sense of humor.

direct; robust; unaffected: an earthy, generous woman.

(of a mineral) having a dull luster and rough to the touch.

Archaic. worldly; pertaining to the earth.

Nearby words

Origin of earthy

First recorded in 1350–1400, earthy is from the Middle English word erthy. See earth, -y¹

SYNONYMS FOR earthy

4 lusty, rough.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR earthy ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR earthy

4 genteel, refined.

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Related formsearth·i·ly, adverbearth·i·ness, noun

Can be confusedearthly earthy (see synonym study at earthly)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for earthiness

Outrageousness hums around these women, and an earthiness too: all have survived—and sometimes thrived from—their drama.
Streisand’s Gay Sex Problem, and the Death of the Gay Icon|Tim Teeman|May 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ryan explained: the citrus of Sauvignon Blanc plays off lemon and lime well, but the oak roped in the earthiness of the spinach.
The Secrets of Matchmaking|Katie Workman|August 11, 2009|DAILY BEAST
It has an earthiness to it that pairs nicely with mushrooms or other earthy flavors, and it also works well with anything spicy.
The Official Beverage of France|Katie Workman|August 4, 2009|DAILY BEAST
I do not really care how the naturalists maltreat language, but I do strenuously object to the earthiness of their ideas.
L-bas|J. K. Huysmans

His passion is often impious in its earthiness; his yearning, sacrilege.
Paul Verlaine|Stefan Zweig
They divest objects of their earthiness by bold simplifications, and transform reality into dreamland.
The History of Modern Painting, Volume 3 (of 4)|Richard Muther
In spite of this earthiness, it still has its fanciful abstractions.
Socialism and Democracy in Europe|Samuel P. Orth
She may be mortal woman—bless her—and have made mistakes; but theyre the mistakes of flame; not of earthiness.
Adrienne Toner|Anne Douglas Sedgwick

British Dictionary definitions for earthiness

earthy

/ (ˈɜːθɪ) /

adjective earthier or earthiest

of, composed of, or characteristic of earth

robust, lusty, or uninhibited

unrefined, coarse, or crude

an archaic word for worldly (def. 1)

electrical engineering on the earthed side of an electrical circuit, but not necessarily with a direct current connection to earth

Derived Formsearthily, adverbearthiness, noun

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

Word Origin and History for earthiness

earthy

adj.

1550s, from earth + -y (2). Figurative sense of "coarse, unrefined" is from 1590s. Related: Earthiness.

earthy

adjective, earth·i·er, earth·i·est.

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Nearby words

Origin of earthy

Examples from the Web for earthiness

British Dictionary definitions for earthiness

earthy

adjective earthier or earthiest

Word Origin and History for earthiness

earthy