grunge

noun

ˈgrənj 

1

: one that is grungy

2

: rock music incorporating elements of punk rock and heavy metal

also : the untidy fashions typical of fans of grunge

grunger

ˈgrən-jər

noun

Examples of grunge in a Sentence

I'm a fan of grunge.

I cleared the grunge out of the drains.

Recent Examples on the Web

Unless the industry in question is peak grunge, Fox is joking. — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026

All signs of the beloved series lead and her soft, youthful aesthetic were wiped clean and replaced by the grunge aesthetic. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026

Kevin Winter / Getty Images The surviving members of genre-defining grunge band Nirvana were given the Video Vanguard award, recognizing their contribution to the form. — Kiki Intarasuwan, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026

The color is neutral enough to work with almost any piece in your closet while giving the look a style-forward edge that calls to mind the grunge aesthetic of the ’90s. — Paulina Berges, Glamour, 26 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from grungy

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for grunge

• lunge
• plunge
• sponge
• expunge
• muskellunge