earthier; earthiest
1
a
: of, relating to, or consisting of earth
earthy creatures like worms
b
: suggestive of earth (as in texture, odor, or color)
an earthy yellow
c
: rough, coarse, or plain in taste
earthy flavors
2
a
archaic : earthly, worldly
b
: characteristic of or associated with mortal life on the earth
prefers earthy to ethereal themes
3
: suggestive of plain or poor people or their ways: such as
a
: practical, down-to-earth
earthy problems of daily life
b
: crude, gross
earthy humor
c
: plain and simple in style : unsophisticated
earthy peasant cookery
earthy decor
earthiness noun

Examples of earthy in a Sentence

a blend of earthy colors The wine had an earthy flavor. Critics were impressed by the movie's earthy realism. food made with simple, earthy ingredients
Recent Examples on the Web The earthy matcha is complemented so nicely by the sweet cold foam — but still, the drink isn’t overly sugary. Ana Calderone, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 Sidekick to: Don Quixote de la Mancha Don Quixote may be the star of Miguel de Cervantes' deeply ironic, surprisingly modern satire of macho heroism, but Sancho is the earthy everyman. Ew Staff Updated, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024 Guitar and piano lines elevate both the sense of restlessness and vastness opportunity ahead of him, while his earthy rumble of a voice grounds the song (written by Brett Jones and Tony Lane) in heartbreak. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 4 Mar. 2024 There are notes of orange-chocolate, green apple, cinnamon, vanilla custard, and black pepper on the palate, with a bit of earthy grass notes on the finish. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 3 Mar. 2024 These long, meandering stretches of stark white sand set the scene for dreamy color palettes of crystalline blues, jungle greens, and earthy clay and wood. Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2024 To continue the musical analogy, the Jean-Pierre Large Morgon from Beaujolais adds an earthy basso profundo. Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024 The blend has a similar taste to coffee, but a spiced, earthy aroma replaces the sharp bitterness of java. Jenna Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 8 Feb. 2024 The lightweight treatment oil sinks right into the scalp, doesn’t leave hair greasy and has a pleasant natural, earthy scent. Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'earthy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of earthy was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near earthy

Cite this Entry

“Earthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earthy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

earthy

adjective
earthier; earthiest
1
: consisting of or resembling earth
an earthy flavor
2
a
: suggestive of plain or poor people or their ways : practical sense 4, down-to-earth
earthy problems of everyday life
b
: not polite : crude
earthy humor
earthiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on earthy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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