1
as in filthy
not clean
after working in the factory all day, his clothes are very dirty
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of dirty
Jada Yuan, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
The notorious hotspot, now a luxury property, was a fave hangout of violent kingpins, hard-living celebs, dirty cops and crooked politicians.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 22 May 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 dirty
Adjective
No, the dirty secret no one ever talks about is the actual transport to and from the gala itself, all the way out at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Rock on the tip of Antibes, a 30-minute drive from downtown Cannes.
—Jada Yuan, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
The notorious hotspot, now a luxury property, was a fave hangout of violent kingpins, hard-living celebs, dirty cops and crooked politicians.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 22 May 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 dirty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dirty
Adjective
-
And some of the best evidence of the lovebugs’ comeback came last week at the Turkey Lake Service Plaza on Florida’s Turnpike, where filthy, splattered cars and trucks queued up before the plaza’s automatic windshield washer.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 May 2026
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But a visually unappealing toilet seat could make an otherwise tidy bathroom look unexpectedly filthy—and there may really be more dirt and germs there than meet the eye, too.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
25 May 2026
Adjective
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That’s enough to send Tom over the edge, screaming at his boss about how his obscene hobby doesn’t give him any idea what war is really like.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
24 May 2026
-
Russian authorities continue to pay obscene sums for those willing to sign up.—
Daniel DePetris,
Mercury News,
23 May 2026
Adjective
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The collapse of its currency is changing that—placing Jakarta at the center of a turbulent 2026.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
The shutdown adds to a turbulent stretch for Madrigal’s restaurant empire.—
Reeti Malhotra
May 22,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
As the ball caromed off the retaining wall in foul territory, another run scored.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
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Reliever Jordan Leasure replaced bulk pitcher Erick Fedde, and Bader popped up Leasure’s second pitch into foul territory.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
Adjective
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Flu season may be mostly behind us, but a nasty, highly contagious stomach bug is rising.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
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Rhaenyra is suddenly dealing with internal criticism, possible rebellions, subjects spray-painting nasty stuff on the walls and self-doubt.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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Strained by tighter budgets and product price increases, more shoppers are willing to ditch their favorite brand for a cheaper alternative, a new study finds.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
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The simpler, cheaper, more snow-friendly autonomous driving hardware is welcome, too.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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Beef’s whole thing is finding the weak, corruptible center of all its characters, and Isaac jumps into that project with enthusiasm.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
2 May 2026
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From fragmented records to corruptible datasets and the general noise across social media, agentic systems are facing a trust and truth crisis at the most fundamental level.—
Lawrence Wintermeyer,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Not every paramilitary fighter is stained by the corruption of the Shia elite or implicated in spilling innocent blood in recent years.—
Nabil Salih,
Time,
26 May 2026
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Dressing up for warmer weather can be a challenge since plush fabrics like silk can easily stain and aren’t as breathable.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
24 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dirty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dirty. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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