grubby

¹

[gruhb-ee]

adjective

grubbier, grubbiest 

1. dirty; slovenly.

   children with grubby faces and sad eyes.

   Synonyms: bedraggled, filthy, messy, unkempt, grimy

2. infested with or affected by grubs or larvae.

3. contemptible.

   grubby political tricks.

grubby

²

[gruhb-ee]

noun

plural

grubbies 

1. a small sculpin, Myxocephalus aenaeus, inhabiting waters off the coast of New England.

grubby

/ ˈɡrʌbɪ /

adjective

1. dirty; slovenly

2. mean; beggarly

3. infested with grubs

Other Word Forms

• grubbily adverb
• grubbiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of grubby¹

First recorded in 1605–15; grub + -y ¹

Origin of grubby²

Origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Proposition 50, which aims to deliver Democrats at least five more House seats in the 2026 midterm election, is either righteous payback or a grubby power grab.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

As the name suggests, From The Pyre is darker, grubbier, more gothically grandiose than their critically acclaimed debut, Prelude To Ecstasy.

Read more on BBC

"After a really busy summer the city can look a bit grubby and that's just because we don't have the money to keep it to a good standard," he said.

Read more on BBC

He stress-tests our icky, grubby pity for Matthew and, beyond that, the flimsiness of modern fame culture and its fake-it-till-you-make-it inspirational platitudes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There were a few water taps around the edges but no proper showers and only grubby blankets on the floor.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• filthy 
• grimy 
• grungy 
• messy 
• seedy 
• shabby 
• soiled www.thesaurus.com
• squalid 
• unkempt