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as in land
the solid part of our planet's surface as distinguished from the sea and air at the first sound of gunfire we hit the dirt

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dirt Jo Adell then reached on infield single when his comebacker hit Henriquez and rolled onto the infield dirt. Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 14 Aug. 2025 There’s a construction wall, a pile of dirt and somewhat heavy machinery. Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2025 Keep your car spotless and clean of dirt and other contaminants. Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025 Too much oil can create the perfect Petri dish for buildup, sweat, dirt, and dead skin cells to make residence on your scalp, which only fuels irritation. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 13 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dirt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dirt
Noun
  • Surfactants are molecules with hydrophilic (water-loving) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) ends, which interact with water and soil particles, aiding water infiltration and distribution in soil.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 16 Aug. 2025
  • Yet Tebas’ desire to play games on American soil is exactly the kind of endeavor that makes two-club domination harder to escape.
    Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • With Hasan in Gaza is an aching witness to the beauty of this land and the struggle of its people, neither of which may soon be recognizable at all.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Enterprising settlers developed savage land, creating wealth and opportunity.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The Iowa native’s canny array of cinematic offerings brought the Film Center out of the muck of the pandemic.
    Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 29 July 2025
  • Over two decades, Tindall has worked by Howe’s side, from the muck and nettles of fourth-tier Bournemouth to a trophy and qualification for the Champions League at Newcastle.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • The dung that stuck to the fresco happened to form the shape of a rosette—a marvel in the eyes of the Florentines.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 31 July 2025
  • Elephants and other big beasts push over trees, trample vegetation underfoot, eat vast amounts of greenery and transport seeds in their dung, disassembling vegetation while unintentionally planting the beginnings of new habitats.
    Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • Other airlines are also implementing sustainable practices, like fuel-efficient routes and electric ground vehicles.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Even so, one of Black Sabbath’s most famous collections manages to gain a bit of ground and even return to one list, as Americans aren’t done honoring the late rocker’s legacy.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Stormwater collected outside of the combined sewer area typically flows into a pipe that goes directly into nearby streams and rivers, while a separate pipe collects sewage from homes and businesses.
    Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 12 Aug. 2025
  • In Chicago, heavy rains can cause overflows in its sewer system, with pipes that carry both stormwater runoff and sewage, releasing fecal matter into local waterways.
    Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Action rocks as Season 2 leans more into DCU absurdity and vulgarity.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Jude is an erudite man of the people whose hyper-literate intellectualism is only matched by his Chaucer-like vulgarity, and his work has long reveled in an impish fascination with the relationship between art, labor, and technology.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • While Virgin Voyages features a large spa with several water features, a quartz treatment bed, and a mud room, Celebrity has expanded the wellness theme outside the spa.
    Michele Robson, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Even when encountering damp grass or bits of mud, the beefy, notched wheels never showed signs of traction loss.
    Tyler Hayes, PC Magazine, 12 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dirt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dirt. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

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