1
as in soil
the loose surface material in which plants naturally grow
dig into the dirt to a depth of about three inches
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
3
as in muck
foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something
there's some dirt on your shoes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in grossness
the quality or state of being obscene
appalled by the dirt in the author's novels
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in dung
solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal
tread carefully, as there's cow dirt all over the pasture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dirt
In our increasingly digital world, the most rewarding click is still the sound of a trowel tapping cold, spring dirt.
—
Jamie Siebrase, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
The city of Detroit is tightening its vetting process for fill dirt used at demolition sites.
—Jack Springgate, CBS News, 8 May 2026
On another, viewers might linger on a picture of dirt, which Siegel captured during a trip 120 feet underground while the station was under construction.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
France took a ball, swung through a fastball, took another ball and then fouled off two pitches before watching a ball in the dirt.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dirt
Jamie Siebrase, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
The city of Detroit is tightening its vetting process for fill dirt used at demolition sites.
—Jack Springgate, CBS News, 8 May 2026
On another, viewers might linger on a picture of dirt, which Siegel captured during a trip 120 feet underground while the station was under construction.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
France took a ball, swung through a fastball, took another ball and then fouled off two pitches before watching a ball in the dirt.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dirt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dirt
Noun
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Investigators ended a search for Kristin Smart’s body at the home of her killer’s mother on Saturday without recovering a body, a day after Sheriff Ian Parkinson said soil testing detected the presence of human remains.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
Native to Texas and adjacent areas of Mexico, plants rarely require supplemental irrigation and thrive in poor soils including sand, clay, and rocky sites.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
Noun
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By 1890, the population of Los Angeles had nearly quintupled, and land speculation in the city’s outlying areas, from the coast to the mountains, was rampant.—
Oren Peleg,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
On land within 200 feet of a stop, a project can include 140 units per acre and be up to 85 feet tall.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
Noun
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But during World War II, about 20,000 acres of Lake Apopka’s north shore were drained and converted into muck farms to grow vegetables needed to feed troops for a nation at war with Axis forces in Europe, Africa and the Pacific.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
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On the path of committing to the bit, Hathaway and her film diverge in terms of quality; the movie is awe-inspiringly ill-begotten, but its leading lady deserves a medal for finding something juicy amid the muck.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
There are no great surprises from here on out, though the sheer, lusty grossness of the fallout is occasionally startling.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
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If an exclamation point only signified gore and grossness, this gothic rock opera would more than qualify.—
Rachel Simon,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Release of dung increases soil organic carbon and helps build soil structure that improves water filtration and soil aeration.—
Paige Stein,
Hartford Courant,
4 May 2026
-
They can be sampled using standardized trapping methods worldwide, since they are easily attracted to dung and carrion, which allows for comparable data across different regions.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Original wood paneling lines much of the interior, while the heavily landscaped grounds feature winding stone paths and a koi pond tucked into the backyard.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
8 May 2026
-
The company’s public framing leans so heavily on markets as an early proving ground.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Noun
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Hydrogen sulfide, a gas commonly associated with sewage, can irritate the eyes and respiratory system and in higher concentrations may cause more serious health effects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
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The sewage would then be ground up by a pump inside the sump and lifted up 8 feet or so to dump into the elevated building drain.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
Noun
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In addition, prosecutors say swastikas, antisemitic slogans and vulgarity were spray-painted on pillars underneath M-53 and Canal, a brick wall near a business and an electrical box at a second business.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
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His vulgarity, insults and threats do not make America great.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dirt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dirt. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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