filthy

1 of 2

adjective

filthier; filthiest
1
: covered with, containing, or characterized by filth
filthy streets
filthy dishes
2
b
: obscene
filthy language
filthily adverb
filthiness noun

filthy

2 of 2

adverb

1
: in a filthy manner
filthy dirty
2
: very, exceedingly
filthy rich
Choose the Right Synonym for filthy

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

Examples of filthy in a Sentence

Adjective She's in a filthy mood. you cannot use such filthy language on the public airwaves Adverb the invention made him filthy rich
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Mandy and Roy, listening, must have thought of their passionate, brave young selves in those filthy backpacker hostels across Europe. Fiona McFarlane, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Ellroy takes history down to the sewer and rolls around with it until everything is filthy. New York Times, 25 Jan. 2024 The subsidiary of Dollar Tree agreed to pay the largest-ever monetary criminal penalty in a food safety case for allowing products to become contaminated at a filthy distribution center in West Memphis, Arkansas. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2024 Their filthy dialogue, bleak plot twists and reckless amorality are all wrong in every possibly way, which makes Torpedo addictive entertainment in a train wreck kind of way. Ernesto Lechner, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Feb. 2024 In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the 6-foot-6 swingman leaped over Frederic Weis, a 7-1 Frenchman, to throw down a filthy right-hand dunk. Noel Harris, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024 Hundreds of dogs were packed into filthy cages and most were emaciated, USA TODAY reported. Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2024 Unfortunately for him, local leaders aren’t exactly pleased to receive his filthy delegation. TIME, 7 Feb. 2024 Heat Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Grade: A– 03 'Do Your Worst' by Rosie Danan Rosie Danan, author of the divinely sweet and filthy The Roommate, returns with this enemies-to-lovers tale with a bit of archaeological intrigue in Do Your Worst. EW.com, 16 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'filthy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of filthy was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near filthy

Cite this Entry

“Filthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/filthy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

filthy

adjective
ˈfil-thē
filthier; filthiest
1
: covered with or containing filth : disgustingly dirty
2
filthily
-thə-lē
adverb
filthiness
-thē-nəs
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on filthy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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