Meaning
3 sensesDark, dull.
Shabby, squalid, uncared-for.
(informal, rare)Resembling or characteristic of a ding (the sound).
More definitions
- thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
- (of color) discolored by impurities; not bright and clear; ‘dirty’ is often used in combination
- causing dejection
Examples
3 sentencesTom lives in a dingy Boston apartment.
The laundry detergent with bleach, that Mary selected, was developed to brighten dingy whites.
Lacking proper lighting, Tammy's room was depressingly dingy.
Origin
From English dialectal (Kentish) dingy (“dirty”), of unknown origin, though probably fromFrom English dialectal (Kentish) dingy (“dirty”), of unknown origin, though probably from Middle English *dingy, dungy, from Old English *dyncgiġ (“covered with dung, dirty”), an umlaut form of duncge, dung (“dung”), equivalent to dung + -y, hence a doublet of dungy.
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Forms
dingier, dingiestSynonyms
31 synonymsAntonyms
2 antonymsWord family
7 related wordsLessons for this word
2 lessons- A2Comparatives — Because it has a comparative form
- A2Superlatives — Because it has a superlative form