filthy

1 of 3

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 3

adverb

1

: in a filthy manner

filthy dirty

2

: very, exceedingly

filthy rich

filthiness

3 of 3

noun

filth·​i·​ness -thēnə̇s 

-thi-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being filthy

saw only the disorder of his hair and the filthiness of his clothes and person

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

For example, the prescription offered by those who saw a generally healthy way of life as the right way to prevent disease helped propel cleaning up the filthy cities of the Industrial Revolution—and that really did reduce the impact of common fevers. —Literary Hub, 11 June 2026

After starting her career at Argentine raves, Six Sex initially broke through with a particularly filthy strain of underground reggaeton. —E.r. Pulgar, Pitchfork, 11 June 2026

So, Tom Steyer, welcome to the hall of infamy of filthy-rich flops. —Garry South, Mercury News, 11 June 2026

On the other hand, the cloth seats in many buses are filthy. —Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026

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