adj

grimy

GREYE-mee

Grimy (adj) means Covered in dirt or grease. Example: “His grimy hands needed a good scrub after fixing the car.”

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adj

Covered in dirt or grease.

"His grimy hands needed a good scrub after fixing the car."

"The grimy alley smelled of old garbage."

Sounding dark, gritty, or raw, especially describing a beat or urban music style.

"The track had a grimy bassline that gave it real edge."

How to use grimy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDirty and grease-covered, or (in music slang) dark and raw-sounding.

Common pairings

grimy hands a grimy street grimy beat

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

grimier comparative, grimiest superlative

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His _____ hands needed a good scrub after fixing the car.

Rhymes for grimy

slimy

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Frequently asked questions

What does “grimy” mean?

The word “grimy” means covered in dirt or grease. In plain terms, dirty and grease-covered, or (in music slang) dark and raw-sounding.

How do you pronounce “grimy”?

“Grimy” is pronounced GREYE-mee (/ˈɡɹaɪmi/ in IPA).

How do you use “grimy” in a sentence?

Here is “grimy” used in a sentence: “His grimy hands needed a good scrub after fixing the car.”

What part of speech is “grimy”?

“Grimy” is an adjective.

How many meanings does “grimy” have?

“Grimy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: covered in dirt or grease.