dirty laundry
noun
: private matters whose public exposure brings distress and embarrassment
called also dirty linen
Examples of dirty laundry in a Sentence
The company is trying to keep its dirty laundry from being aired in public.
Recent Examples on the Web
All defendants maintained their innocence and appealed after a two-year trial that opened a Pandora's box of unwanted revelations about papal ransom payments to Islamic militants, Vatican vendettas, espionage and other dirty laundry of the Holy See.
—
Nicole Winfield The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026
All defendants maintained their innocence and appealed after a two-year trial that opened a pandora’s box of unwanted revelations about papal ransom payments to Islamic militants, Vatican vendettas, espionage and other dirty laundry of the Holy See.
—Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Letting Trash and Laundry Pile Up Poor ventilation, moisture, and humidity in the bathroom can cause damp towels, used washcloths, bathroom trash, and dirty laundry to develop odors if left unattended.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 15 Mar. 2026
To go the extra mile, Gagliardi recommends adding a laundry sanitizer to your machine’s fabric softener compartment to kill germs that may have transferred from the dirty laundry.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dirty laundry
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Nicole Winfield The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026
All defendants maintained their innocence and appealed after a two-year trial that opened a pandora’s box of unwanted revelations about papal ransom payments to Islamic militants, Vatican vendettas, espionage and other dirty laundry of the Holy See.
—Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Letting Trash and Laundry Pile Up Poor ventilation, moisture, and humidity in the bathroom can cause damp towels, used washcloths, bathroom trash, and dirty laundry to develop odors if left unattended.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 15 Mar. 2026
To go the extra mile, Gagliardi recommends adding a laundry sanitizer to your machine’s fabric softener compartment to kill germs that may have transferred from the dirty laundry.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dirty laundry
Cite this Entry
“Dirty laundry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dirty%20laundry. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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