grunge

[gruhnj] / grʌndʒ /

ADJECTIVE

dirt; rock music style of the early 1990s

Synonyms

STRONGEST

filth grease grime soil stain

STRONG

muck vileness

WEAK

punk schmutz

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.

I think country music today is not far from what was happening with rock in the ’90s, except for grunge.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026

Without even seeing a single garment, his style is clear: avant-garde, grunge and very rock ’n’ roll.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

He did a poorly received grunge collection that incoherently tried to marry haute couture with thrift-store shabbiness, and was fired for it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

Vaguely grunge in vibe, the track overtly recalls second feminism’s suspicion of feminine adornment.

From Salon • Feb. 19, 2026

Each section has its own era-defining poster: Nevermind by Nirvana for grunge.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon