ENGLISH
REFERENCE

grubby

n.
C1 Advanced US //ˈɡɹəbi// UK //ɡɹˈʌbi// grub·by Dialect

n. dirty, messy, or unclean. You use this to describe things that have marks, stains, or a general lack of cleanliness.

n. dirty, soiled, or unclean. Often carries a connotation of being messy or lacking in personal hygiene.


SIMPLE

The children came home with grubby faces after playing in the mud.

CONTEXTUAL

He noticed that the grubby fingerprints on the window were still visible despite the rain.

COMPLEX

The detective's report noted that the suspect's grubby appearance and lack of a fixed address made him an unlikely candidate for the high-profile corporate theft.

Synonyms
Origin

From grub + -y.

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