Apparently that shabby flat is vacant.
Source: tatoeba (38342)
Shabby
/ˈʃæbi/
Synonyms for "shabby" (365 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (73)
Adjective(11 words)
abandonedabjectabominablearrantatrociousawfulbarebasebatteredbeastlybeat upbeat-upbedraggledbeggarlybeneath contemptblameworthyblowzybroken-downbrutalbudget
Show 41 more words
carelesscheapcheeseparingcheesychintzycoarsecommoncontemptiblecontemptuouscrummydebaseddecayingdecrepitdeficientdegradeddemeaningdeplorabledepravedderelictdesolatedespicabledeteriorateddeterioratingdetestabledilapidateddingydiredirtydisagreeablediscreditabledisfigureddisgracefuldisgustingdishonorabledisreputabledog-eareddowdydown at the heeldown-at-heeldown-at-the-heelsdrabbletailed
Noun(1 words)
Strong matches (110)
draggleddraggletaileddreadfuleasyeconomiceconomicaleconomyegregiousenormousexecrablefadedfetidfilthyflagrantfoulfourth classfourth-classfrayedfrazzledfrowzy
Show 77 more words
frugalfrumpishfrumpyfull of holesfulsomegaudygimcrackygood-for-naughtgood-for-nothinggravegrievousgrossgrubbygrudginggrungyhatefulheelheinousholeyhorriblehorridignobleignominiousimperfectimpolitein ragsin shredsin tattersinadequateincompetentinexpensiveinfamousinferiorinformalingloriousinsufficientirregularjunkjunkylamentablelittleloathsomelooselousylowlow classlow downlow gradelow pricedlow testlow-classlow-downlow-gradelow-pricedlow-qualitylow-testlowlylumpenmaladroitmanageablemangymeagermeanmean-spiritedmeaslymediocremeretriciousmessymickey mousemingymiserablemoderatemodestmonstrousmoth eatenmoth-eatenmussy
Verb(1 words)
Related words (182)
nastynefariousneglectednegligentngniggardniggardlyno accountno goodno-accountno-goodnoisomenominalnot comparablenot in itnot worth havingnot worth mentioningnot worthwhilenotoriousnugacious
Show 131 more words
nugatoryobnoxiousodiousoffensiveopprobriousout of itout of the runningoutrageousoutwornpaltrypatchypatheticpenuriousperemptorypettypinchpennypitiablepitifulpokypoorpoverty-strickenpunkraggedraggedyramshacklerankrattyreasonableregrettablereprehensiblereptilianrepulsivericketyrottenrubbishyruderuinedruinousrun downrun-downsadscabbyscandalousschlockscragglyscrubbyscruffyscummyscurvyscuzzysecond bestsecond classsecond ratesecond-bestsecond-classseedysensibleshadyshamefulshatteredshockingshoddyslackslatternlysleazyslipshodsloppyslovenlyslumlikeslummysluttishsmallsordidsorrysqualidstingytackytatteredtattytawdryterriblethird classthird ratethird-classthird-ratethreadbaretime-worntinnytiredtokentoo badtorntrashytrivialtrumperytumbledowntwo-for-a-centtwo-for-a-pennytwopennytwopenny-halfpennyuncleanuncouthunexpensiveunfriendlyungenerousungentlemanlyunhelpfulunkemptunladylikeunmentionableunneatunpleasantunrespectableunsightlyunskillfuluntidyunworthyvaluelessvilevillainouswithin meanswoebegonewoefulwornworn outworn-outworstworth the moneyworthlesswreckedwretched
Adjective(26 words)
poor stateracketyraggedestraggediestramshackle arrangementrattiestrattyscabbiestscraggliestscrappiestscrappyscrubbierscrubbiestscruffierscruffiestseamierseedierseediestshoddyshoddy goods
Show 6 more words
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: tatty, abandoned, abject, abominable, arrant.
- Sentence evidence is available for shabby, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "shabby".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "shabby"
Keep "shabby" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "shabby" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "shabby", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "shabby" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
2 entrieslow qualitypoor quality
More specific
6 entriesCollocations
6 entriesshabby apartmentshabby appearanceshabby chicshabby conditionsshabby treatmentshabby workmanship
Inflections
2 entriesDerivations
2 entriessimilar
3 entriesTranslations
4 translations across 2 languages.
Finnish
1 entries- hääppöinen adj (poor in quality; showing little effort or talent)
Spanish
3 entries- chimbo adj (poor in quality; showing little effort or talent)
- cutre adj (poor in quality; showing little effort or talent)
- deterior adj (poor in quality; showing little effort or talent)
Sample sentences
29 total sentences available.
The room was empty except for a shabby bed.
Source: tatoeba (44241)
The shabby compartment remained vacant.
Source: tatoeba (49856)
The shabby flat is vacant.
Source: tatoeba (49857)
Showing 4 of 29 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "shabby"?
Closest matches include tatty, abandoned, abject, abominable, arrant.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "shabby"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.