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mangy

mangy

28 6.5
Worn and dirty, in bad condition
  • adjective
  • /ˈmeɪn.dʒi/
  • Offensive
translation icon : sarnoso
  • The park was filled with stray, mangy dogs that looked as though they had not eaten in days.
  • mangy mutt
  • mangy dog
  • mangy cat

You went to this mangy little office, sat there, and wow, how it felt.

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Examples

  • And her mangy little dog too!

  • The other was short and balding, his beard grey-streaked and as patchy as a mangy dog's coat.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • You went to this mangy little office, sat there, and wow, how it felt.

  • In time... I may even get to like this mangy cat of ours.

  • Sand storms and mangy dogs, that's what I remember.

  • The creatures that were left looked limp and mangy, like old produce in a fruit market.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Buck's dog lay mangy on the linoleum, gnawing on an old deer bone.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • A white pit bull and an emaciated, mangy young Doberman were fighting over some garbage.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Two Sundays ago, when he came to the excavation, the three dogs—thin, mangy pariahs—were lying like comrades in hunger.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • She felt sorry for the mangy cat that slept in the alley, its fur matted and dirty.

Synonyms

shabby
vsmangy
33 2.5

Worn and in poor condition because of long use or little care

focuses more on being dirty and in poor condition overall
dingy
vsmangy
23 4.6

Dark and dirty so it does not look bright

stresses shabby and worn condition more than simple dullness
scruffy
vsmangy
23 3.8

Messy and untidy in clothes or appearance

is dirtier and suggests worse physical condition beyond untidiness
grimy
vsmangy
22 3.7

Covered in thick dirt that makes something look and feel dirty

is broader, including worn shabby condition not only surface grime
ratty
vsmangy
  • Informal
19 5.4

Looking worn and dirty from use

adds a stronger sense of being dirty as well as worn
ragged
vsmangy
16 3.2

Old, torn clothes that are in poor condition

covers general dirtiness and poor condition beyond torn clothing
unkempt
vsmangy
13 5.1

Not neat in appearance, often with messy hair or clothes

is broader, stressing dirty and shabby condition rather than mere untidiness
raggedy
vsmangy
  • Informal
12 4.0

Something that looks worn, torn, and messy

adds stronger emphasis on filth and poor condition rather than age alone
mucky
vsmangy
7 3.2

Dirty and covered in mud

is broader, indicating general shabby and poor condition rather than mud
cruddy
vsmangy
  • Informal
4 6.0

Dirty and not good quality

leans more toward shabby, worn appearance than just low quality
bedraggled
vsmangy
4 7.0

Dirty and untidy, often wet after being in rain or mud

is drier and stresses worn, shabby condition rather than wetness
dumpy
vsmangy
  • Informal
4 5.8

An ugly, dirty place that looks like a garbage dump

is about worn, shabby appearance rather than dump-like filth
scuzzy
vsmangy
  • Offensive
4 8.6

Dirty and unpleasant, like a place with sticky floors

is mainly about physical dirtiness and shabby appearance without moral tone
flea-bitten
vsmangy
  • Archaic
2 7.8

Old and in bad condition from use and poor care

adds a stronger sense of dirt and poor condition beyond age
grotty
vsmangy
  • UK
2 8.4

Looks dirty and unpleasant, often like a shabby room or shop

is more about shabby wear and visible dirt rather than full squalor
tatty
vsmangy
  • UK
2 6.0

Worn and in poor condition because of age or heavy use

is more about visible dirt and shabby appearance rather than mere wear
gunky
vsmangy
1 7.7

Covered with sticky, dirty stuff

is about overall shabby and worn condition rather than sticky residue
manky
vsmangy
  • Slang
1 9.9

Being dirty and unpleasant and of low quality

focuses more on shabby, worn appearance than on disgust alone
buggy
vsmangy
1 3.8

Full of small insects like mosquitoes that bite or annoy you

is about dirty, shabby condition without implying insect infestation
scroungy
vsmangy
  • UK
1 7.7

Dirty and untidy in appearance

places extra weight on actual dirtiness in the appearance
mussy
vsmangy
1 7.4

Untidy and dirty, with things out of place

is mainly about visible dirt and shabby external appearance rather than disorder
dungy
vsmangy
  • Archaic
8.3

Covered with animal poop and smelling bad

is dirty and shabby without implying specific filth like waste
matty
vsmangy
8.2

Having hair or fabric that is messy and stuck together in clumps

is dirtier and emphasizes shabby, poor physical condition
raggie
vsmangy
  • UK
9.9

Having old torn clothes and looking untidy

is broader, stressing overall dirty and poor condition beyond clothing
disty
vsmangy
  • Slang
9.9

Dirty and messy, with things in the wrong places

is the standard term for shabby, dirty appearance without slang tone
raggy
vsmangy
4.2

Appears torn or worn, like old clothes with holes

is not only torn but also emphasizes dirty, shabby condition
mank
vsmangy
  • Slang
9.9

Very dirty and unpleasant to touch or use

is more narrowly about shabby appearance and worn condition
trampy
vsmangy
  • Offensive
8.6

Looking dirty and untidy like someone who lives on the streets

is broader and less character-focused, stressing overall dirtiness

Antonyms

1.0

Free from dirt or harmful things

144 1.0

Clean and tidy with things in order

63 5.1

Very clean and fresh, like new

How Shabby

tattered
4 4.1
mangy
  • Offensive
28 6.5
shabby
33 2.5
worn
4 2.1
scruffy
23 3.8

Surface Forms

mangy positive

Morphology

mangy = mange (semi-transparent) = mange + y

Formed from 'mange' + the adjectival suffix '-y' (literally 'having mange'), but its extended meaning 'shabby' is metaphorical and may not be obvious to learners unfamiliar with the disease.

Etymology

Mangy comes from the word mange, which means 'a skin disease' that makes animals lose their fur and look dirty. So mangy now describes something shabby or in poor condition, like a blanket or sofa that looks worn and uncared for.