Main Entry: ¹dirty

Pronunciation: \ˈdər-tē\

Function: adjective

Inflected Form(s): dirt·i·er; dirt·i·est

Date: 14th century

1 a : not clean or pure <dirty clothes> b : likely to befoul or defile with dirt <dirty jobs> c : contaminated with infecting organisms <dirty wounds> d : containing impurities <dirty coal>
2 a : morally unclean or corrupt: as (1) : indecent, vulgar <dirty jokes> <a dirty movie> (2) : dishonorable, base <a dirty trick> (3) : unsportsmanlike <dirty players> b : acquired by disreputable or illegal means : ill-gotten <dirty money> c : disagreeable, distasteful, or objectionable but usually necessary (as in achieving a desired result) <hired a thug to do their dirty work>
3 a : abominable, hateful <war is a dirty business> b : highly regrettable <a dirty shame> c : likely to cause disgrace or scandal <dirty little secrets>
4 : foggy, stormy <dirty weather>
5 a of color : not clear and bright : dullish <dirty blond> b : characterized by a husky, rasping, or raw tonal quality <dirty trumpet tones>
6 : conveying ill-natured resentment <gave him a dirty look>

— dirt·i·ly \ˈdər-tə-lē\ adverb

— dirt·i·ness \ˈdər-tē-nəs\ noun

synonyms dirty, filthy, foul, nasty, squalid mean conspicuously unclean or impure. dirty emphasizes the presence of dirt more than an emotional reaction to it <a dirty littered street>. filthy carries a strong suggestion of offensiveness and typically of gradually accumulated dirt that begrimes and besmears <a stained greasy floor, utterly filthy>. foul implies extreme offensiveness and an accumulation of what is rotten or stinking <a foul-smelling open sewer>. nasty applies to what is actually foul or is repugnant to one expecting freshness, cleanliness, or sweetness <it's a nasty job to clean up after a sick cat>. In practice, nasty is often weakened to the point of being no more than a synonym of unpleasant or disagreeable <had a nasty fall> <his answer gave her a nasty shock>. squalid adds to the idea of dirtiness and filth that of slovenly neglect <squalid slums>. All these terms are also applicable to moral uncleanness or baseness or obscenity. dirty then stresses meanness or despicableness <don't ask me to do your dirty work>, while filthy and foul describe disgusting obscenity or loathsome behavior <filthy street language> <a foul story of lust and greed>, and nasty implies a peculiarly offensive unpleasantness <a stand-up comedian known for nasty humor>. Distinctively, squalid implies sordidness as well as baseness and dirtiness <engaged in a series of squalid affairs>.