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shabby

[shab-ee] / ˈʃæb i /




Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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The whole affair was tawdry, shabby, and cheap—designed to pander to downwardly mobile young men who felt angry at the world.

From Slate Jun. 11, 2026

His novel “The Damned Utd,” based on Brian Clough’s disastrous 44 days managing Leeds United in 1974, captures the texture of an English provincial city of the era, all shabby hotels, beer and highways.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 4, 2026

Super Micro Computer spiked 69% in May—not quite as good as its rival, Dell, but not too shabby.

From Barron's May 29, 2026

As he proved Saturday, he is not too shabby outdoors, either.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 12, 2026

Instead, it’s Papi’s van, looking especially shabby in the loop.

From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina

“From A to Z, from animal services to the zoo, the city is shabbier and more dysfunctional than it was three years ago,” said Cole, now a member of the Pasadena City Council.

From Los Angeles Times May 27, 2026

The meeting house grows progressively more dilapidated, and the costumes get shabbier, indicating that things aren’t going well for the Puritans.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 2, 2026

However, the photo she said she took in person showed a much shabbier house, featuring uneven grass and cluttered with yard equipment where the bench was supposed to be.

From Slate Oct. 17, 2025

It's older and shabbier, covered in pine needles, small compared to the beach-front mansions others on the island have.

From Salon Jun. 7, 2022

So out came the tarlatan, looking older, limper, and shabbier than ever beside Sallie’s crisp new one.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

But it is a copout of the shabbiest sort to exploit this anxiety as a way of averting our gaze from the undiminished threat of North Korea.

From The Guardian Apr. 17, 2017

We’re the ones who highlight the shabbiest research.

From Slate Aug. 28, 2016

The pattern veered to the extreme Saturday afternoon, when the Nationals followed their self-described biggest win of the season with one of their shabbiest losses.

From Washington Post Jun. 29, 2013

Not the shabbiest of lists, we're sure you'll agree.

From The Guardian Jan. 23, 2013

I had a small collection of books that came with me to Forks, the shabbiest volume being a compilation of the works of Jane Austen.

From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer




Vocabulary lists containing shabby


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