mouldy

/ˈməʊldi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈməʊldi/ (ame, ipa)

mouldy — adjective

  • mouldypositive
  • mouldiercomparative
  • mouldiestsuperlative

1. showing fungus growth, or having the damp stale smell that comes with it after b

1.形容詞B1
釋義

showing fungus growth, or having the damp stale smell that comes with it after being left wet or shut away for too long.

例句

Jude threw away the mouldy bread he found behind the toaster.

mouldy + noun for food with visible fungus

Dark green patches spread across the mouldy bathroom ceiling.

同義詞
  • mildewed

    narrower and slightly more technical, especially for cloth, walls, and bathrooms

  • musty

    usually describes a damp old smell without saying fungus is visible

  • stale

    for lost freshness in bread or air, not actual mould growth

  • rotten

    suggests deeper decay, often with a stronger smell

反義詞
  • fresh

    for food or air still in good condition

  • clean

    for surfaces without dirt or fungus growth

  • dry

    for places or materials not holding the dampness that encourages mould

文法句型

mouldy + noun

be/smell/look + mouldy

turn/go + mouldy

用法筆記

Often used for food, walls, cloth, and other things kept in warm or damp places. Go mouldy and turn mouldy describe the change into this condition.

常見錯誤

❌The soup is mouldy after one night in the fridge.
✅The soup has gone bad after one night in the fridge.
💡mouldy is used when fungus grows or a clear mould smell develops, not for every kind of spoiled food.

2. old, dirty, and in poor condition, so that a place or thing feels cheap, neglect

2.形容詞C1
釋義

old, dirty, and in poor condition, so that a place or thing feels cheap, neglected, or unpleasant to use.

例句

Ayesha rented a mouldy flat with peeling paint and broken locks.

mouldy + place meaning shabby and neglected

The tour bus stopped at a mouldy cafe with cracked plastic chairs.

同義詞
  • shabby

    the closest neutral word for worn and poorly kept

  • run-down

    often used for buildings or neighborhoods that need repair

  • tatty

    informal and common for clothes or small objects in poor condition

  • seedy

    suggests a shabby place that also feels unpleasant or slightly unsafe

反義詞
  • smart

    British English for neat and well presented

  • well-kept

    describes a place or object looked after properly

  • comfortable

    for a place that feels pleasant to stay in

文法句型

mouldy + noun for shabby place or object

用法筆記

This informal use usually suggests neglect and poor quality rather than actual fungus. It is most natural before nouns for rooms, buildings, furniture, or cheap businesses.

常見錯誤

❌The logo looks mouldy.
✅The logo looks dated.
💡this sense is for shabby rooms, objects, or businesses, not simply for styles that seem old-fashioned.

3. so old in style or repeated so often that it now feels dull, unfashionable, or u

3.形容詞B2
釋義

so old in style or repeated so often that it now feels dull, unfashionable, or uninteresting.

例句

Chiara groaned at the mouldy joke her coach tells every season.

mouldy joke for humor that feels tired from repetition

The ad campaign felt mouldy beside the sharper videos online.

同義詞
  • dated

    the closest everyday word for something no longer modern

  • stale

    often used when an idea or joke has lost its effect through repetition

  • old-fashioned

    can be neutral or positive, while mouldy is clearly critical

  • corny

    especially for jokes, songs, or lines that feel embarrassingly old

反義詞
  • fresh

    new and lively in style or effect

  • modern

    current in look or taste

  • original

    not copied or worn out by repetition

文法句型

mouldy + joke/idea/song

look/feel + mouldy

用法筆記

Used for jokes, styles, songs, ideas, and other things judged by taste or interest. Unlike sense 2, this one focuses on being stale or out of date, not on poor physical condition.

常見錯誤

❌My phone is mouldy because it is five years old.
✅My phone feels outdated because it is five years old.
💡this sense is about something seeming tired or old-fashioned to people, not simply being old.