Synonyms of soil

soil 1 of 3

noun (1)

1

as in dirt

foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something

got some sort of soil on my white pants

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dirt
• muck
• sewage
• sludge
• dust
• garbage
• litter
• filth
• grime
• gunk
• trash
• smut
• crud
• sewerage
• junk
• rubbish
• scum
• slime
• waste
• soot
• dross
• swill
• refuse
• crock
• scrap
• dustiness
• foulness
• uncleanliness
• uncleanness
• dirtiness
• nastiness
• grubbiness
• filthiness
• squalidness
• dinginess
• griminess

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cleanliness
• cleanness

2

as in dung

solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal

the horse lifted its tail and deposited its soil on the grass

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dung
• dirt
• feces
• excrement
• excreta
• dropping
• poop
• muck
• slops
• manure
• scat
• waste
• sewage
• stool
• ordure
• doo-doo
• night soil
• guano
• sewerage
• midden
• dunghill
• spoor
• coprolite

soil

2 of 3

noun (2)

1

as in ground

the loose surface material in which plants naturally grow

bought rich soil to plant flowers in

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dirt
• ground
• sand
• mud
• earth
• mold
• gravel
• clay
• muck
• clod
• dust
• sediment
• topsoil
• silt
• loam
• humus
• subsoil
• kaolin
• gumbo
• alluvium
• loess
• colluvium
• gley
• marl
• detritus
• substratum
• gault
• blackland
• shingle
• guck
• duff
• mull

2

as in land

the solid part of our planet's surface as distinguished from the sea and air

happy to have soil under my feet after that long sea voyage

Synonyms & Similar Words

• land
• ground
• earth
• dirt
• dust
• continent
• island
• terra firma
• zone
• landmass
• peninsula
• mainland
• isthmus

soil

3 of 3

verb

ˈsȯi(-ə)l 

as in to stain

to make dirty

oil and grease soiled the mechanic's shirt

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stain
• dirty
• muck
• blacken
• muddy
• mess
• smudge
• mire
• besmirch
• pollute
• contaminate
• befoul
• smirch
• grime
• sully
• daub
• foul
• distain
• gaum
• taint
• bemire
• begrime
• defile
• discolor
• disarray
• disorder
• disarrange
• muddle
• jumble
• crock
• dishevel
• colly
• confuse
• draggle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clean
• cleanse
• purify
• decontaminate
• purge
• dust
• wash
• brush
• disinfect
• scrub
• wipe
• sweep
• rinse
• sanitize
• scour
• mop
• renew
• spruce (up)
• launder
• brighten
• freshen
• straighten (up)
• dry-clean
• deodorize
• tidy (up)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of soil

Noun

Though many variables will have to go Kerr’s way to break a 27-year-old world record, the possibility of a Brit breaking it on home soil, in the land of Roger Bannister and the first four-minute mile, could turn Kerr into a household name. — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 17 July 2026

Coach Didier Deschamps will take charge of Les Bleus for the final time after a remarkable 14-year tenure that included the 2018 World Cup triumph, a runner-up finish four years later and defeat in the Euro 2016 final on home soil. — Mark Hodge, NBC news, 17 July 2026

Verb

Designed for occasional use, like for bulky or heavily soiled items, this setting adds an extra rinse after the wash cycle to ensure laundry is thoroughly rinsed and no detergent remains. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 18 June 2026

The story of Reconstruction had been, of course, soiled badly by the historians’ profession, to be honest. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026