Definition

In a manner that is rusty or shows signs of rust; often used to describe something that is not functioning smoothly or is out of practice.

Example

The old door creaked rustily as it opened after years of disuse.

Conversation

I tried playing the guitar again after years, but I sounded pretty rustily at first.

That's okay! It takes time to get back into it.

Yeah, I was surprised how quickly I forgot some of the chords.

Just keep practicing, and you'll be back to normal in no time!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Rustily → It is formed from "rust" (from Old English *rust*, meaning the reddish-brown coating that forms on iron) and "-ily" (a suffix meaning in a manner). The word "rustily" means in a manner that is rusty or showing signs of rust.

Memory Tip

Think of something that is 'rusty' — the suffix '-ily' indicates the manner, so 'rustily' describes doing something in a rusty way.

Visually Confused Words