1
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
shabby wallpaper that was peeling from the walls
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Its cottagecore design blends shabby-chic florals with a bright and inviting color palette.
—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 June 2026
Seth Rogen as the voice of a tiny alien co-piloting a space bus is an inspired concoction, as is a shabbier sci-fi realm with rest stops along the intergalactic highway.
—
ABC News,
24 June 2026
Meanwhile, the state of Independence Mall itself was surprisingly shabby.
—
Christopher Hooks,
Harpers Magazine,
23 June 2026
At school, he was hectored because of his shabby wardrobe.
—
Dan Pompei,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shabby
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 June 2026
Seth Rogen as the voice of a tiny alien co-piloting a space bus is an inspired concoction, as is a shabbier sci-fi realm with rest stops along the intergalactic highway.
—
ABC News,
24 June 2026
Meanwhile, the state of Independence Mall itself was surprisingly shabby.
—
Christopher Hooks,
Harpers Magazine,
23 June 2026
At school, he was hectored because of his shabby wardrobe.
—
Dan Pompei,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shabby
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shabby
Adjective
-
Sixteen children from the same family who were rescued from a dilapidated home in rural Ohio were living in wretched conditions with human waste all around, confined to just one room over much of the past four years, authorities said Wednesday.
-
The parents and grandparents of 16 children found living in a dilapidated house in southern Ohio were arraigned Wednesday on more than a dozen felony child endangerment charges, officials said.
Adjective
-
There was a phone book, camera film canisters, metal pins, the tattered remains of a baseball cap and an orange t-shirt with the outline of a giant thumbs up.
-
His main challenge will be to overcome Starmer's inability to deliver promised economic growth, repair tattered public services and ease the cost of living.
Adjective
-
Changing their environment is more reliable and more neglected.
-
Cinematographer Guillermo Garza shoots neglected settings like fine art, embracing the grime.
Adjective
-
This leaves ragged and bruised leaf tips behind that quickly turn brown and are more susceptible to disease.
-
His hushed, ragged whisper feels suitably weathered, fitting a collection of songs that never are in a hurry.
Adjective
-
Directed by Son Jae-gon and starring Gang Dong-won, Uhm Tae-goo, and Park Ji-hyun, the film tracks a faded first-generation K-pop co-ed dance trio making a reckless attempt to stage a comeback two decades after a plagiarism scandal dissolved their careers.
-
The one difference was a new layer of red bricks over the faded previous layer.
Cite this Entry
“Shabby.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shabby. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
