Words at Play : Top 10 Words of the '90s
Punk rock mixed with heavy metal: a defining sound of the decade.
With the Seattle band Nirvana (and its 1991 album Nevermind) leading the way, grunge bands filled the 90s with distorted guitars and angst-filled lyrics.
The word comes from grungy, meaning "dirty," but the outsider look – flannel shirts, knit caps, ripped jeans – was adopted by high-end designers and mainstream retailers.
More Words at Play
