1
as in filthy
not clean
after working in the factory all day, his clothes are very dirty
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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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as in illegally
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of dirty
Katharina Schwarze, Architectural Digest, 7 Jan. 2025
Clean hydrogen is vital to help curb carbon emissions from dirty industrial processes like making steel and fertilizer.
—Alan Ohnsman, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 30 June 2024
Steaming is simple and effective; pop a wide array of foods like veggies, fish, and dumplings into the steamer of your choosing, let the water steam up, and a complete meal cooks in minutes while barely dirtying a dish.
—Andrew Watman, WIRED, 29 June 2024
Ashraf Khalil and Didi Tang, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Oct. 2023
During the Cold War, Washington routinely played dirty to protect the liberal order.
—Victor Cha, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2022
See all Example Sentences for dirty 
Adjective
The door to the laundry room is made of textured glass, so dirty clothes are hidden, but light continues to flow into the apartment.
—Katharina Schwarze, Architectural Digest, 7 Jan. 2025
Clean hydrogen is vital to help curb carbon emissions from dirty industrial processes like making steel and fertilizer.
—Alan Ohnsman, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
The shrimp cook right on top of the pasta in this recipe, so there's no need to dirty a second pan.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 30 June 2024
Steaming is simple and effective; pop a wide array of foods like veggies, fish, and dumplings into the steamer of your choosing, let the water steam up, and a complete meal cooks in minutes while barely dirtying a dish.
—Andrew Watman, WIRED, 29 June 2024
Adverb
The campaign gained intensity when photos circulated on the Internet of Ya Ya looking dirty and gaunt (by panda standards) with patchy fur.
—Ashraf Khalil and Didi Tang, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Oct. 2023
During the Cold War, Washington routinely played dirty to protect the liberal order.
—Victor Cha, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2022
See all Example Sentences for dirty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dirty
Adjective
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In the earlier seasons of the show, characters were often filthy, caked with dirt and blood, clothes tattered.Erik Kain, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
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My father was living alone in that dark, filthy room like an old animal wallowing in its own excrement.Lee Chang-dong, The New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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He was booked on charges of enticing a child under 16, distribution of obscene matter, and lascivious posing and exhibiting a child in the nude.Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 3 Dec. 2024
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Of course, obscene content has been censored, and services that clearly broke intellectual property laws, like Napster, WikiLeaks, and The Pirate Bay were shuttered, but, for the average person, the internet remained broadly open in the United States.Callum Booth, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Aikman too had some turbulent times early in his career with the Dallas Cowboys.Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
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But wearied by a turbulent couple of years that saw points deductions, relegation battles and near-constant speculation over the future of the club, the 53-year-old made clear his view that his methods were no longer having the same impact.Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Which brings us back to the Knicks’ glaring issues: minutes, foul calls, and rotations.Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2025
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The captaincy tag had appeared to shake him from a foul mood that has festered as the series has worn on exacerbated by the youthful exuberance of brash upstart Sam Konstas, who has really gotten under his skin.Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The net front is the nastiest place on an NHL rink.Chris Branch, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
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Make sure your items are delivered on time before nasty weather hits by signing up for a Prime membership.Christopher Murray, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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New England legislators and regulators consistently blocked building additional pipelines from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and other regions in the U.S. and Canada, which could bring cheap, onshore natural gas to replace fuel oil.Ariel Cohen, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
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The 25-year-old is cheap, still a season away from salary arbitration eligibility, also plays the corner outfield spots, and won’t be a free agent until after the 2028 season.Brendan Kuty, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The clay could have been put onto the bone directly, or the bone could have been held in a cloth already stained with red ochre.Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
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The assault permanently stained Yarrow's reputation, particularly in the #MeToo era, as he was regularly disinvited from events once his name became known as a performing guest.Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Sometimes, the 17-year-old makes this dusty trek twice per day, committed to perfecting his backhand on ground balls, creating separation between his upper and lower half on swings off the tee, and strengthening his already laser-like arm through a regimen of regular drills.Greg Presto, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025
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In one corner, dozens of dusty bottles sat behind beanbag chairs, while a miniature trampoline lay turned on its side.River Akira Davis, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near dirty
Cite this Entry
“Dirty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dirty. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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