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
On dirt, torque matters more than peak power.
—
New Atlas, 27 Mar. 2026
Spread a couple of inches of damp bedding material, such as peat moss, shredded paper, or good old-fashioned dirt, in the bottom of the container.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
Vantage said the hours were necessary to keep the earth moving during winter months, when dirt can freeze, and would keep the project on track for completion in 2028.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Austin also recommends mild shampoos and conditioners — ones formulated to gently remove dirt buildup without heavy moisturizers that weigh down hair and expose more of the scalp.
—Nicole Hernandez, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dirt
New Atlas, 27 Mar. 2026
Spread a couple of inches of damp bedding material, such as peat moss, shredded paper, or good old-fashioned dirt, in the bottom of the container.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
Vantage said the hours were necessary to keep the earth moving during winter months, when dirt can freeze, and would keep the project on track for completion in 2028.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Austin also recommends mild shampoos and conditioners — ones formulated to gently remove dirt buildup without heavy moisturizers that weigh down hair and expose more of the scalp.
—Nicole Hernandez, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dirt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dirt
Noun
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As the train pulled into the precincts of Guilin, Martha and Joost gazed out the window at a series of pointy green hills poking up out of bright-orange soil.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
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Borlaug’s life reflects the kind of innovation that can grow from Iowa soil and reach far beyond it.—
Kate Levasseur,
Des Moines Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Framed as deregulation, the bill sets a statewide minimum lot size of 1,500 square feet while also shrinking setbacks and eliminating dimensional requirements that could stand in the way of building multiple compact homes on at least four acres of land.—
Mark Dee
March 28,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Mar. 2026
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The all-volunteer Planning Commission considers matters related to land-use planning and development, implements the city’s general plan, reviews development applications and serves as an intermediary between the public and the City Council.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Volunteers have been showing up from across Oahu and even from other islands to help clear away muck and debris, Pierce said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
This is music that’s grounded in the muck and the mire of mundane existence; escape is always just out of reach.—
Colin Joyce,
Pitchfork,
18 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
-
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
-
Of course, the flue was closed, so the fire licked up the walls, left a smell like the fall, like ancient smokehouses and dung.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The adjacent training grounds are world-class and will remain the team’s practice facility.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
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That earlier incident also led to ground stops at DCA, IAD, and BWI, stranding passengers and causing ripple effects across the national air travel system.—
De'Anthony Taylor,
Baltimore Sun,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Graywater from showers and kitchens, sewage from onboard systems and industrial runoff can contain chemicals and contaminants that harm marine life and degrade water quality when not treated effectively.—
Steve Adelstein,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
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About 18,000 gallons of sewage spilled near the intersection of Friars Road and Sea World Drive after a valve at a pump station failed, officials reported the morning of March 25.—
Point Loma-Ob Monthly,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 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
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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 1 Apr. 2026.
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