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adverb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective filthy differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of filthy are dirty, foul, nasty, and squalid. While all these words mean "conspicuously unclean or impure," 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 might dirty be a better fit than filthy?

In some situations, the words dirty and filthy are roughly equivalent. However, 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 would foul be a good substitute for filthy?

The words foul and filthy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 is nasty related to other words for filthy?

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

In what contexts can squalid take the place of filthy?

The synonyms squalid and filthy are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 filthy
Adjective
Unitree claims that the G1 is made to handle difficult, filthy, and repetitive jobs in a variety of settings, including at homes, factories, and hospitals. Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2025 Josh O’Connor, at his filthy best, plays a disillusioned ’70s suburban dad married to Alana Haim and vaguely fathering a pair of pathologically chatty sons as the Vietnam War and its attendant protests color the world around them. Vulture Staff, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2025 Grab a sponge and a bucket, some vinegar, and dish soap, and scrub away that filthy grime. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025 Nothing sends chills down your spine like evil clowns, undead monsters and a filthy car. Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for filthy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for filthy
Adjective
  • Beside one of those blandly obscene bidets.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
  • But the show avoided an FCC probe as the West Coast delay was censored, and the East Coast broadcast aired after the 6am-10pm window during which obscene content is prohibited on broadcast TV and radio.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Leave it on dirty spots for just a minute before rubbing residue away with a soft cloth.
    Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Williams has shown the ability to break some long runs and pick up the dirty yards.
    Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • Sharon is extremely annoying, but my heart does break for her a tiny bit here.
    Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Satchel Crossbody This effortlessly chic crossbody bag will add an elegant flair to any daytime look while also being extremely functional.
    Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Who decides what’s decorous and what’s vulgar?
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The president has been targeting Jeffries online with offensive and vulgar memes since the pair first had an unsuccessful sit-down meeting in the Oval Office just before the shutdown.
    Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • This is not a dusty collection or hodgepodge of Gold Rush artifacts placed around a xeriscape.
    David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The old shelves with their dusty cans were gone, replaced by three wooden pillars, each with a small platform at chest height.
    David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • The hunter was supposed to be Nweeia’s main guide, and this happened on the very first day of the expedition.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
  • There are very few people with any substance who want to run.
    Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • While some individuals have produced hardcore pornographic clips starring Disney and comic book characters, others on the platform have succeeded in prompting Grok Imagine to conjure lewd imagery of Taylor Swift, Scarlett Johansson, and Sydney Sweeney.
    Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
  • OpenAI included numerous guardrails with Sora, including moderation, restrictions on scammy, violent and pornographic material, watermarks and controls over how one's likeness is used.
    Bobby Allyn, NPR, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The stained glass traces a hierarchy from the current dean to the Crown and then to God.
    Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Wood stained baseboards may need a gentler cleaning approach, such as Murphy’s Oil Soap, to protect the finish.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Filthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/filthy. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

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