in poor condition through long or hard use or lack of care, wearing old and torn clothes, unfair or dishonorable

a shabby shadow, shabby-genteel poverty, shabby treatment

shabby chic, shabby-genteel, shabby treatment

Formal and Informal Expressions of shabby

In different contexts, you can replace 'shabby' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'dilapidated, decrepit' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'beat-up, ratty' is a commonplace synonym.

shabby: Explore its Definition & Usage

shabby Definition

1in poor condition through long or hard use or lack of care
2wearing old and torn clothes
3unfair or dishonorable

Using shabby: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "shabby" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The hotel was shabby and in need of renovation.
Example
He wore a shabby coat and trousers.
Example
It was a shabby trick to play on someone.
Example
The company's shabby treatment of its employees led to a strike.

shabby Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for shabby

Antonyms for shabby

Idioms Using shabby

a shabby shadow
a person or thing that is a poor imitation of something else
Example
The new restaurant is a shabby shadow of the original, with poor service and low-quality food.
shabby-genteel poverty
the state of being poor but trying to maintain an appearance of refinement or elegance
Example
She lived in shabby-genteel poverty, with threadbare curtains and antique furniture.
shabby treatment
unfair or disrespectful behavior towards someone
Example
The shabby treatment of the workers led to a strike.

Phrases with shabby

shabby chic
a style of interior design that uses furniture and decor that appear to be pleasantly old and slightly worn
Example
Her apartment is decorated in shabby chic style, with vintage furniture and floral patterns.
shabby-genteel
a person or thing that appears to be genteel or refined but is actually poor or in bad condition
Example
The hotel was shabby-genteel, with faded carpets and chandeliers that needed cleaning.
shabby treatment
unfair or disrespectful behavior towards someone
Example
The shabby treatment of the workers led to a strike.

Origins of shabby

from Old English 'sceabbig', meaning 'scabby'

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Summary: shabby in Brief

The term 'shabby' [ˈʃæbi] describes something in poor condition due to long use or lack of care, such as a hotel or clothing. It can also refer to unfair or dishonorable behavior, as in 'It was a shabby trick to play on someone.' The phrase 'shabby chic' denotes a style of interior design that uses vintage furniture and decor, while 'shabby-genteel' describes something that appears refined but is actually poor. Idioms like 'a shabby shadow' and 'shabby-genteel poverty' describe poor imitations of something else.