shabby

adjective

ˈsha-bē How to pronounce shabby (audio)
Definition of shabbynext
1
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect shabby wallpaper that was peeling from the walls

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tattered
worn or torn into or as if into rags shabby, stained clothes that are barely better than rags

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of shabby But returning home after some time with Ye-ji and Sang-woo, their place suddenly looks shabby and cheap. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026 Not too shabby—and the Transparency mode also sounded quite natural! — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026 Gardeners occasionally have trouble with boxwood foliage turning brown—making this otherwise beautiful shrub look a little shabby and worn. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 5 Aug. 2026 Willian, another player listed in the disciplinary charges, wasn’t too shabby, either. — Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shabby
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shabby
  1. dilapidated
  2. tattered
  3. neglected
  4. ragged
  5. faded
Adjective
  • Protesters have decried dilapidated schools, overcrowded classrooms, staff shortages and inequalities in the education system.
    — Ellen Francis, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Through her nonprofit, UniteWI, owner Bria Grant bought the 112-year-old building from the City of Milwaukee in 2019 in a dilapidated state.
    — Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of dilapidated
Adjective
  • For Brashares, letting go of her kids’ and husband’s old clothes always felt a little like throwing away more than tattered items.
    — Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The tattered cypresses and long-needle pines damp out the shine of her tracksuit, closing swiftly around dog and girl.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of tattered
Adjective
  • Investors and analysts are increasingly looking to other parts of the market, both to find neglected sources of value and to start assuming a defensive posture against a possible downturn.
    — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 16 July 2026
  • Changing their environment is more reliable and more neglected.
    — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Definition of neglected
Adjective
  • Dull blades leave tears and ragged ends that cause grass blades to wither and bleach out more quickly.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Both sides deny responsibility for launching this round of hostilities, and most of the fighting is believed to be in remote areas of often ragged, mountainous territory.
    — SAMUEL GETACHEW, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of ragged
Adjective
  • This embroidered quilt is the epitome of fall style with its warm background and mix of leaves in faded brown and golden hues.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The quasi-patriotic palette got contemporary edge from faded lines running through the red and dark navy stripes, which shifted between vertical and horizontal directions.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of faded

Browse Nearby Words

shabbily
shabby
shack
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Cite this Entry

“Shabby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shabby. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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