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as in land
the solid part of our planet's surface as distinguished from the sea and air at the first sound of gunfire we hit the dirt

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in dung
solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal tread carefully, as there's cow dirt all over the pasture

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 dirt The one-way valve feature on the bottom of the device brings in the air and doesn’t redistribute dirt around the camera’s sensitive mechanisms and sensors. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 19 May 2025 Then use the window vac, working in overlapping lines to vacuum up dirt and excess cleaning solution. The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2025 Remove any surface dirt, empty the pockets, close zippers to prevent snags, and turn the jacket inside out to protect the outer fabric. Katelyn Squiers, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2025 The family was traveling in a 2012 Dodge Ram pickup truck that darted right for unknown reasons, left the road, and overturned numerous times on a dirt shoulder in the desert region, according to the Victorville Daily Press and CW affiliate KTLA. Jillian Frankel, People.com, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for dirt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dirt
Noun
  • Source: University of Manchester Graphic: Renée Rigdon, CNN Aspergillus fungi grow like small filaments in soils all over the world.
    Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 24 May 2025
  • Young stands remain uneven in age and composition, and soil and hydrological processes continue to reflect past disturbances.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • These sightings offer hope that this snake may return to lands it was once pushed out of.
    Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 May 2025
  • Super Nintendo World is home to two smaller lands, Super Mario Land and Donkey Kong Country.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Over time, these items amass dirt, debris, muck, and odors.
    Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2025
  • Sovereignty’s Kentucky Derby victory in the muck at Churchill Downs sparked curiosity over whether the colt can build on his signature win over a possibly drier, faster surface on the Triple Crown trail.
    Gary B. Graves, Baltimore Sun, 4 May 2025
Noun
  • But be careful not to hit any of the rodents or the rodent dung.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025
  • The dung heap is being dismantled by a scrum of hermit crabs.
    Kevin Gepford, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • While driving - Stick to the middle lanes and stay on elevated ground.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 25 May 2025
  • Freeze poultry and ground meat that won’t be used within 2 days; freeze other meat within 4 to 5 days.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 25 May 2025
Noun
  • In the early ’70s, there was a 54-inch sewage force main installed from south to north at this river crossing location.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 16 May 2025
  • Dumbarton Oaks Park is downstream from Piney Branch, a tributary of Rock Creek that receives about 40 million gallons of untreated sewage and storm water overflow each year, according to the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority.
    Chris Cameron, New York Times, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • Finally, women need to call this type of vulgarity out instead of being demure!
    Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025
  • Fiona Crombie’s production design gives the movie an imposing scale (with a Mar-a-Lago vulgarity in the ostentatious décor of the Marshalls’ quarters), though for a project shot by Darius Khondji and screened in IMAX, the visuals are nothing special.
    David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • An 8-foot alligator was discovered perfectly disguised in the mud along a southwest Florida hiking trail, and photos of the startling sight have rattled social media.
    Mark Price, Miami Herald, 19 May 2025
  • The tales of professional golfers bemoaning mud balls and preferred lies will die by next week.
    Jordan Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 19 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dirt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dirt. Accessed 30 May. 2025.

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