grubby
adjective /ˈɡrʌbi/
/ˈɡrʌbi/
(comparative grubbier, superlative grubbiest)
- rather dirty, usually because it has not been washed or cleaned
- grubby hands/clothes
Synonyms dirtydirty- dusty
- filthy
- muddy
- soiled
- grubby
- stained
- dirty not clean; covered with dust, soil, mud, oil, etc:
- If your hands are dirty, go and wash them.
- dusty full of dust; covered with dust:
- There were shelves full of dusty books.
- filthy very dirty and unpleasant:
- It’s absolutely filthy in here.
- muddy full of or covered in mud:
- Don’t you come in here with those muddy boots on!
- soiled (rather formal) dirty, especially with waste from the body:
- soiled nappies/diapers
- grubby (rather informal) rather dirty, usually because it has not been washed:
- He hoped she wouldn’t notice his grubby shirt cuffs.
- stained (often in compounds) covered with stains; marked with a stain (= a dirty mark that is difficult to remove):
- a pair of paint-stained jeans
- dirty/dusty/filthy/muddy/soiled/grubby/stained clothes
- dirty/dusty/filthy/grubby hands
- a dirty/dusty/filthy room
- to get dirty/dusty/filthy/muddy/stained
Extra Examples- Having to put on unwashed clothes made her feel grubby.
- He hoped she wouldn't notice his grubby shirt cuffs.
- My hands are a bit grubby.
- unpleasant because it involves activities that are not honest or moral synonym sordid
- a grubby scandal