grubby

1
[ gruhb-ee ]
See synonyms for grubby on Thesaurus.com
adjective,grub·bi·er, grub·bi·est.
  1. dirty; slovenly: children with grubby faces and sad eyes.

  2. infested with or affected by grubs or larvae.

  1. contemptible: grubby political tricks.

Origin of grubby

1
First recorded in 1605–15; grub + -y1

Other words for grubby

Other words from grubby

  • grub·bi·ly, adverb
  • grub·bi·ness, noun

Other definitions for grubby (2 of 2)

grubby2
[ gruhb-ee ]

noun,plural grub·bies.
  1. a small sculpin, Myxocephalus aenaeus, inhabiting waters off the coast of New England.

Origin of grubby

2
Origin uncertain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for grubby

grubby

/ (ˈɡrʌbɪ) /


adjective-bier or -biest
  1. dirty; slovenly

  2. mean; beggarly

  1. infested with grubs

Derived forms of grubby

  • grubbily, adverb
  • grubbiness, 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