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filthy

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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
The room was filthy, prescription bottles around the room, one bed with no sheets. Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 27 June 2025 Photograph: Chris Null As anyone who’s ever stuck a cotton swab in there knows, your ear canal is a filthy, disgusting place. Christopher Null, Wired News, 22 June 2025 His jab-step game was filthy out of triple-threat situations, and his mid-post game was already incredibly developed for a teenager. Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 19 June 2025 Troubled Factories: The medications came mostly from plants in India where inspectors found contaminated drugs, filthy labs and falsified records. Debbie Cenziper, ProPublica, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for filthy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for filthy
Adjective
  • Lawsuit alleges 'obscene' government overreach Longo's lawsuit, filed in Chemung County, New York, names the county, the city of Elmira and several DEC officers as defendants.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 12 July 2025
  • The court acknowledged that protecting minors from material that would be considered obscene from their perspective was a compelling government interest.
    Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • The restaurant violated 17 standards, including bugs inside the restaurant and dirty kitchen equipment.
    Evan Moore July 18, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2025
  • What to look for in a quality cat fountain Filtration system Stagnant or dirty water is dangerous to pets, especially cats with a delicate immune system.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2025
Adverb
  • Floor-to-ceiling windows lead to a private terrace and outdoor daybed, which makes for an extremely relaxing place to enjoy a cup of tea after a spa treatment, read a book in the afternoon, or just take in the gorgeous setting after returning from a day out.
    Hannah Freedman, Travel + Leisure, 13 July 2025
  • Squishy Pebbles The story of Williams’ new result started with progress on a different question about memory in computation: What problems can be solved with extremely limited space?
    Ben Brubaker, Wired News, 13 July 2025
Adjective
  • The comics were often dismissed as a vulgar form, but the bad joke of our superhero-movie culture is that most of it is a vulgarization of the comics.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 8 July 2025
  • Nan’s rebellion was never loud or vulgar but always quietly confident and effortlessly elegant.
    Felicity Carter, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • Tim Petrillo, one of the developers behind the $500 million project, donned a hard hat on a sweltering Tuesday and peered out at the dusty construction site at Northwest First Avenue, just north of Northwest Fifth Street.
    Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 14 July 2025
  • Jameson had a customer who turned his dusty garage into a workshop by running extension cords along the floor to a workbench.
    The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2025
Adverb
  • He’s been a huge part of us being in contention and he’s pitched very, very well.
    Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 July 2025
  • Iris and Pepe, whose relationship is very new, though still steamy, are the least likely to win, with odds of 8/1 (+800).
    Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 13 July 2025
Adverb
  • This particular trick works incredibly well for window and standing air conditioners, since their output is already focused in a single area of the home.
    Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 July 2025
  • Sour Strawberry Candy Belts These sour straws are almost too chewy, but incredibly satisfying.
    Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 July 2025
Adjective
  • Her somewhat implausible problem is that her bad feelings—her irritation, her boredom—never register as such because of her beauty, her wealth, and her pedigree; so great is her beauty that even her nastiest moods feel like a sunny glow to others.
    Claire Jarvis, New Yorker, 8 July 2025
  • But use kind humor, not nasty or deprecating humor.
    Davia Temin, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Filthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/filthy. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

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