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Definition of dirtinessnext
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dirty

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adjective

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dirty

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verb

dirty

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adverb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective dirty differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of dirty are filthy, foul, nasty, and squalid. While all these words mean "conspicuously unclean or impure," dirty emphasizes the presence of dirt more than an emotional reaction to it or, figuratively, stresses meanness or despicableness.

a dirty littered street
don't ask me to do your dirty work

When is it sensible to use filthy instead of dirty?

The words filthy and dirty are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, filthy carries a strong suggestion of offensiveness and typically of gradually accumulated dirt that begrimes and besmears. Figuratively, it can also describe disgusting obscenity.

a stained greasy floor, utterly filthy
filthy street language

When could foul be used to replace dirty?

The meanings of foul and dirty largely overlap; however, foul implies extreme offensiveness and an accumulation of what is rotten or stinking; it can also describe, for example, loathsome behavior.

a foul-smelling open sewer
a foul story of lust and greed

How does the word nasty relate to other synonyms for dirty?

Nasty applies to what is actually foul or is repugnant to one expecting freshness, cleanliness, or sweetness; in practice, however, nasty is often weakened to the point of being no more than a synonym of unpleasant or disagreeable. When used figuratively, nasty implies a peculiarly offensive unpleasantness.

it's a nasty job to clean up after a sick cat
had a nasty fall
his answer gave her a nasty shock
a stand-up comedian known for nasty humor

Where would squalid be a reasonable alternative to dirty?

While the synonyms squalid and dirty are close in meaning, squalid adds to the idea of dirtiness and filth that of slovenly neglect. Distinctively, its figurative use implies sordidness as well as baseness and dirtiness.

squalid slums
engaged in a series of squalid affairs

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 dirtiness
Noun
When assessing a hat's dirtiness, look for visible stains or sweat marks and treat only those areas with a soft, damp cloth and detergent rather than washing the entire hat. Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026 However, its effectiveness in thoroughly cleaning depends on the degree of dirtiness. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Dec. 2025
Adjective
Shower Doors If your shower doors are spotty, your entire shower is going to look dirty. Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 28 June 2026 They dirty floors and walls with smears and droppings. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 June 2026
Verb
Keep them in reserve as a sleep sock to ward off icy toes and prevent sweat and skin oils from dirtying your down sleeping bag. Adam Roy, Outside, 28 Dec. 2025 Garments can be dirtied again by the elements if air-dried outside. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dirtiness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dirtiness
Noun
  • An earnest, has-a-costume-for-everything kind of guy, Daub is allergic to the greige and the dinge.
    Sandra Upson, Wired, 18 Jan. 2021
  • Dinges said the two crewmembers whose sleep remained steady -- even in the absence of conventional daylight -- were those who kept to a strict schedule and found other ways to control their biological clocks.
    Michael Nedelman, CNN, 1 June 2017
Noun
  • All your Dad has to do is fill it and drink—the microfilter membrane will do the rest by removing chlorine odors, dirt, bacteria, and any other grossness floating around in there.
    Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2026
  • 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
Noun
  • However, if the staining is heavy or set-in, use 1/4 cup of powder per gallon of water.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 June 2026
  • To further prevent obvious staining, choose darker flooring that won't show mud and dirt as easily.
    Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 June 2026
Noun
  • The once-vaunted values of public life are now reduced to the lower standards of private life—venality, vulgarity, rudeness, incontinence, and ignorance.
    Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
  • Benoit delights in language as much as her heroine, weaving Regency-era slang throughout and appending a chapter-by-chapter glossary of vulgarities.
    Angelina Mazza, Vulture, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • Fennell continues to have a gift for exposing the sordidness of money and power.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Neither Eliot nor Jules suspected anything, and the ease of the deception added to its pleasing sordidness.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • There’s some rudeness, aggressive conversations, and crudeness, but nothing too over the top.
    Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The other funnymen of the time—Milton Berle with his lewd suggestiveness, Jackie Gleason with his baleful roar—did the same shtick over and over.
    David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • But many seemingly urbane texts also benefited from the intellectual and moral coarseness of their times.
    Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
  • The term plant texture refers to the fineness or coarseness, roughness or smoothness, heaviness or lightness of a particular plant.
    David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 15 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dirtiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dirtiness. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

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