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
Water parched soil and allow a couple of days for the dirt to absorb the water before proceeding.
—
David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 3 Apr. 2026
To try it yourself, just drop the cotton ball in the bin where the dust and dirt goes.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 2 Apr. 2026
Another image showed just their hands, documenting his scrapes, redness and dirt in his wounds.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
Your Hair Gets Oily The accumulation of sebum, along with dirt, dead skin, and other particles, can lead to an oily appearance in the hair.
—Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dirt
David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 3 Apr. 2026
To try it yourself, just drop the cotton ball in the bin where the dust and dirt goes.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 2 Apr. 2026
Another image showed just their hands, documenting his scrapes, redness and dirt in his wounds.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
Your Hair Gets Oily The accumulation of sebum, along with dirt, dead skin, and other particles, can lead to an oily appearance in the hair.
—Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dirt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dirt
Noun
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According to ZamZows, most Idahoans have a mix of sandy and clay soil, which can both cause problems in the garden.—
McClatchy,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Bright light, lower humidity, and warmer temperatures can cause soil to dry out more quickly, requiring more frequent watering.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Irrigation is crucial in an area that's primarily dry land agriculture.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Another, says Lentsch, was when the Wyoming state senate almost passed SJ2, a bill seeking to transfer all federal land in Wyoming to the state for the purpose of selling it off.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Cormorants that tried to clean each other with their beaks died after ingesting the viscous muck.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
As the men tumbled down the grade’s shoulder into muck and brush, the speeders rammed together.—
Dave Duffey,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 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
-
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
-
Yes, unfortunately, the ancient Irish did burn cow dung to heat their homes when peat was too expensive or not available.—
David McGrath,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Harrison Bader and Patrick Bailey drew back-to-back walks to begin the sixth, then Willy Adames plated the Giants’ first run with a one-out ground-rule double.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2026
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Those who fly the small, lightweight aircraft of different stripes were restricted for nearly four years from accessing the airport by ground and taking off in their ultralights.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Within minutes, a dark brew of sewage, industrial waste, and stormwater was rising through basements and businesses, hospitals and the central rail station, knocking out power and causing a billion dollars in damage.—
Eric Klinenberg,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Nest Burger at 2540 East Plano Parkway Suite was temporarily closed after inspectors observed a lack of adequate sewage disposal facilities in the kitchen causing an immediate public health hazard.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The values are different now, the lifestyles, the accepted vulgarity, the manners, the view of what’s patriotic and what’s not, the concept of service.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Dirt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dirt. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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