filth

noun

ˈfilth 

1

: foul or putrid matter

especially : loathsome dirt or refuse

2

a

: moral corruption or defilement

b

: something that tends to corrupt or defile

Synonyms

• crud
• dirt
• grime
• gunk
• muck
• smut
• soil

Examples of filth in a Sentence

He emerged from the cellar covered in filth.

the filth of the slaughterhouse

living in filth and squalor

Recent Examples on the Web

Under Musk’s leadership, Twitter has become a sub-functional hellscape of filth that has evolved into a megaphone for its owner to pump conspiracy theories and hate speech out onto the internet. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024

Hall said when his son was found, he was severely dehydrated, hungry and covered in filth. —Theresa Vargas, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024

But the Smiths were left with piles of filth to clean up. —Stepheny Price, Fox News, 28 Feb. 2024

This habitual house of filth can be found under Y & C Restaurant and, with this record, the owners should want inspection details hidden under a different name. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 18 Feb. 2024

Phillips’ throat burned from inhaling smoke, and he was covered in filth. —Shannon Heffernan and Weihua Li, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2024

But try that nowadays and the guy will laugh derisively, then pick up your sawbuck between his thumb and index finger, like a piece of filth, and hand it back to you. —Jack Handey, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024

Corrective Actions: Must clean and maintain clean so that accumulation of filth does not occur. —Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Jan. 2024

What Nikki doesn't support is letting the Chinese and Iranians create anonymous accounts to spread chaos and anti-American filth among our people. —Nidia Cavazos, CBS News, 15 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English fȳlth, from fūl foul

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

filth

noun

ˈfilth 

1

: disgusting dirt or waste

2

: something that tends to disgust, offend, or dirty