dusty

adjective

ˈdə-stē 

dustier; dustiest

1

: covered or abounding with dust

2

: consisting of dust : powdery

3

: resembling dust

4

: lacking vitality : dry

dusty scholarship

5

British : unsatisfactory

—used especially in the phrases dusty answer and not so dusty

dustily

ˈdə-stə-lē 

adverb

dustiness

ˈdə-stē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of dusty

• fine
• powdery

Examples of dusty in a Sentence

He pulled dusty candlesticks from the shelf.

His new tie is a dusty blue.

Recent Examples on the Web

India’s changing light informs the palette — with white and cream softened by the sun, dusty pink, light pastels and earthy spice tones sit alongside bright colors. — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026

This East of Eden is a gorgeous production, deliberately stark and vast and dusty rather than lushly floral like the 1955 film. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026

In one, a dark-haired man played the Camille Saint-Saëns song on a dusty violin while a ballerina in a fanlike feathery skirt danced the part of the swan. — Tom Drury, Harpers Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026

Its FlexiArm side brush and mop extend right along baseboards and chair legs, leaving fewer dusty corners behind. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dusty

• dusty miller

Rhymes for dusty

• crusty
• gusty
• lusty
• musty
• rusty
• trusty

Kids Definition

dusty

adjective

ˈdəs-tē 

dustier; dustiest

1

: filled or covered with dust

2

: resembling dust

dusty soil

dustily

-tə-lē 

adverb

dustiness

-tē-nəs 

noun