filthy

1 of 2

adjective

ˈfil-thē 

filthier; filthiest

1

: covered with, containing, or characterized by filth : very dirty

filthy streets

filthy dishes

2

a

: underhand, vile

a filthy lie

b

: obscene sense 2b, indecent

a filthy joke

He has a filthy mouth. [= he uses indecent language]

filthily

ˈfil-thə-lē 

adverb

filthiness

ˈfil-thē-nəs 

noun

filthy

2 of 2

adverb

1

: in a filthy manner

filthy dirty

2

: very, exceedingly

filthy rich

Synonyms of filthy

Adjective

• obscene
• vulgar
• pornographic
• dirty
• nasty
• foul
• gross

Adverb

• extremely
• very
• incredibly
• terribly
• damned
• damn
• highly
• badly
• too
• so
• desperately
• severely
• jolly
• really
• super
• full
• seriously
• far

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

Jackson Lamb has long, greasy hair and a pot belly over which hangs a filthy old trench coat. —Barbara Ellis, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025

On the other end, Ja’Marr Chase is coming off an absolutely filthy touchdown grab last Sunday. —Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025

For collaborating with British officers while on parole, he was transferred to solitary confinement in a filthy cell. —Stacy Schiff, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025

Trying to expose the trafficking, abuse, and the filthy networks that protect the wealthy and powerful puts you in danger. —Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing filthy

• filthy dirty
• filthy rich
• filthy/stinking rich

Kids Definition

filthy

adjective

ˈfil-thē

filthier; filthiest

1

: covered with or containing filth : disgustingly dirty

2

a

: underhand entry 2 sense 1, evil

b

: obscene sense 2

filthily

-thə-lē

adverb

filthiness

-thē-nəs

noun