grimy

1 of 2

adjective

ˈgrī-mē How to pronounce grimy (audio)
grimier; grimiest
Synonyms of grimy
: full of or covered with grime : dirty
wiped his grimy hands
griminess noun

griminess

2 of 2

noun

grim·​i·​ness
-mēnə̇s, 
-min-
plural -es
: the quality or state of being grimy

Synonyms of grimy

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Adjective

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Examples of grimy in a Sentence

Adjective this mirror is so grimy you can barely see your reflection in it
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
In This Article Bathroom faucets can get germy, grimy, and crusty pretty fast. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2026 Arguably the standout set of the entire festival, her set was grimy and dark, featuring songs off her new album, Music, Fashion, Film, for the first time with a permanent snarl. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026 This should include scraping (not rinsing) large chunks of food off the dishes to avoid clogging the dishwasher’s filters, and pre-treating any heavily greasy or grimy dishes. — The Spruce, 29 July 2026 Olivia Dean’s romantic dresses and vintage references offer another option entirely, one typically not associated with the sometimes grimy setting of Grant Park. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for grimy

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1612, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of grimy was in 1612

Rhymes for grimy

See All Rhymes for grimy

Browse Nearby Words

grimthorpe
grimy
grin
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Cite this Entry

“Grimy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grimy. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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