1
as in dustiness
the state or quality of being dirty
the health inspector took the manager to task over the general dirtiness of the restaurant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grossness
the quality or state of being obscene
the incontestable dirtiness of the film demands an adult rating
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in filthy
not clean
after working in the factory all day, his clothes are very dirty
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2
as in obscene
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society
some radio stations refused to play the song because of the dirty lyrics
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3
as in turbulent
marked by wet and windy conditions
they were unknowingly sailing into dirty weather
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4
as in foul
not being in accordance with the rules or standards of what is fair in sport
the school is known for the dirty football it plays
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5
as in nasty
not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency
accused the other campaign of playing dirty tricks
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6
as in cheap
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust
laying off longtime employees was a dirty way for the company to reduce labor costs and save money
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7
as in corruptible
open to improper influence and especially bribery
a movie about a dirty cop paid to protect a mafioso
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as in to stain
to make dirty
she dirtied her new sneakers when she splashed in the puddle
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in illegally
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of dirtiness
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
Michael R. Blood, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026
So Giles steps up and does the dirty deed by suffocating Ben.
—ArsTechnica, 7 June 2026
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
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
Raman — in her first run for citywide office — has promised to speed up housing construction, bring back entertainment industry jobs and improve services in a city known for dirty streets, gridlock and homeless encampments that are commonplace in many neighborhoods.
—Michael R. Blood, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026
So Giles steps up and does the dirty deed by suffocating Ben.
—ArsTechnica, 7 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
-
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
-
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
-
Each of the 22 rays is represented in the primary somatosensory cortex by a distinct morphological module — a stripe of tissue identifiable under cytochrome oxidase staining, arranged in a pattern that mirrors the star’s geometry.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Nestled between the layers is a genuinely heartfelt story that blooms from beneath all the aesthetic and verbal vulgarity, thus making innate, and intuitive, his ongoing, ever-evolving manifesto on the state of things.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
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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
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
Cite this Entry
“Dirtiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dirtiness. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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