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
The numbers screamed for Madison Bumgarner, with the 2014 World Series championship on the line, to throw Kansas City’s Salvador Perez a breaking ball in the dirt.
—
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Switching to a gentle, creamy or hydrating cleanser protects the skin’s barrier while still removing dirt and makeup.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026
The Foamy looks to be a decent chair even before topping it with the fit-to-task cushion, combining an aluminum quad-folding frame with a full dirt/water-resistant fabric seat that can be used with or without the cushion.
—New Atlas, 24 Apr. 2026
Convoys of construction trucks carrying radioactive dirt and materials.
—Masatsugu Horie, Bloomberg, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dirt
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Switching to a gentle, creamy or hydrating cleanser protects the skin’s barrier while still removing dirt and makeup.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026
The Foamy looks to be a decent chair even before topping it with the fit-to-task cushion, combining an aluminum quad-folding frame with a full dirt/water-resistant fabric seat that can be used with or without the cushion.
—New Atlas, 24 Apr. 2026
Convoys of construction trucks carrying radioactive dirt and materials.
—Masatsugu Horie, Bloomberg, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dirt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dirt
Noun
-
In general, plants in window boxes need good drainage, high-quality soil, and frequent watering to flourish.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Mexico’s government said Saturday that two CIA agents killed in a car crash in Chihuahua were unauthorized to participate in operations on Mexican soil.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This land, now dotted with Russian mines, is currently inaccessible.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The state’s population is projected to balloon further with even more residential sprawl and water demands, while harming its environment and natural lands.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The highest-scoring, fastest-flying team on the ice this season just can't seem to completely solve the lock-down, muck-up-the-middle approach of the Los Angeles Kings.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Popular with airboaters, froggers and fishermen, the swampy muck beneath the water may have acted as a pincushion, essentially swallowing the disabled DC-9 aircraft.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 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
-
If an exclamation point only signified gore and grossness, this gothic rock opera would more than qualify.—
Rachel Simon,
Vulture,
6 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
-
The run allowed by Morales came on a ground out in the third inning.—
Lou Ponsi,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Young is a physical edge setter who can physically overmatch tight ends and hold his ground against tackles.—
Matt Moret,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Gaza’s most dire conditions — the lack of food and medicine, continuing Israeli attacks, destroyed hospitals, schools and residential buildings, homelessness and overcrowding — now include rodents, climbing temperatures and open-air sewage.—
Jeremy Mikula,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The city’s sewer systems often overflow during storms, causing untreated sewage and water to flood streets and basements.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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 1 May. 2026.
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