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
Relevance
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
Idaho State Police, with assistance from local authorities, as well as search and rescue groups, excavated the backyard over several days — starting in a small spot near the fence line, and eventually removing and sifting dirt from the entire area.
—
Alex Brizee
march 5, Idaho Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026
The switch can fail electrically or mechanically (dirt and moisture).
—John Paul, The Providence Journal, 6 Mar. 2026
Dark shades like black or gray conceal dirt and stains.
—Beth Livesay, AJC.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Use your hands to agitate the greens (this will dislodge any stubborn bits of grit or dirt), then drain and spin dry.
—Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dirt
Alex Brizee
march 5, Idaho Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026
The switch can fail electrically or mechanically (dirt and moisture).
—John Paul, The Providence Journal, 6 Mar. 2026
Dark shades like black or gray conceal dirt and stains.
—Beth Livesay, AJC.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Use your hands to agitate the greens (this will dislodge any stubborn bits of grit or dirt), then drain and spin dry.
—Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dirt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dirt
Noun
-
When Fritz competes on home soil, his tennis often blooms.—
Douglas Robson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Ford spent decades dumping hazardous waste, including paints, solvents, heavy metals, construction rubble and contaminated soil on the river floodplain into the 1960s, none of which was addressed when soils at Highland Bridge were cleaned to residential standards.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The cost of the overall project may, conservatively, land in the $400 million to $500 million range, Tallen Capital Partners Founder, Chairman and CEO Terry Tallen said Friday.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
7 Mar. 2026
-
More fossil fuels burned means more emissions and more warming, while the ability of the ocean and land to absorb carbon dioxide continues to decrease.—
Michael Wysession,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Nebraska got bogged down in the winter muck after an end to the 2025 season marked by four losses in five games, the final three in ugly fashion.—
Mitch Sherman,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Just get it a little damp before use and fully rinse the muck off when you’re finished.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
If an exclamation point only signified gore and grossness, this gothic rock opera would more than qualify.—
Rachel Simon,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The characters’ propensity for ugly faces, silliness and a bit of grossness too, stems from the portrayals of girlhood and young womanhood that appeal to them.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The streets are begrimed by factory smoke, fecund with horse dung and lit by lanterns.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
These rodents left 15 pieces of dung on top of the dishwasher.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
19 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
State and local officials broke ground on a new mental health campus in Norwalk with over 150 beds at the Metropolitan State Hospital.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The second method is installing below-ground bait systems every 10 to 20 feet around a building; the stations are monitored regularly for activity.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS), part of the CDC, monitors samples of wastewater (sewage) for viruses and bacteria to detect infection patterns in communities.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The health department also said that the bar had active sewage backup in the basement and improper plumbing installed, saying that the facility lacks a grease interceptor to keep oil and grease from getting into the sewer system.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
It is hoped that political ad campaigns would aim to lessen the meanness and divisiveness and vulgarity that have damaged our democracy.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Former President Richard Nixon proved himself no slouch in the vulgarity department after reaching the White House in 1969.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dirt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dirt. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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