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dirty

dirty

525 1.0
Not clean or covered with dirt
  • adjective
  • /ˈdɜrti/
translation icon : sucio
  • I need to wash my hands because they are dirty from gardening.
  • dirty clothes
  • get dirty
  • dirty hands

It it smells and tastes like dirty, moldy socks to me.

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Examples

  • This city itself was shabby, dirty, declining, angry.

  • This just looks like a dirty beach.

  • This one is quite dirty, but I think it may work.

  • Usually these places are so dirty.

  • This is really very dirty like it smells.

  • My house isn't as dirty as it usually is.

  • Bill Weisler picked up the bit of tape from the dirty floor of the back room.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Why is the school cafeteria dirty and your dining room at home so clean?

    Academic text (1999)
  • My boots are from Ash and they look really dirty, but that's OK.

  • The client's home may be unpleasant, dirty, and lacking in adequate care facilities.

    Academic text (1994)

Synonyms

gross
vsdirty
  • Informal
280 2.3

Very unpleasant and making you feel sick or disgusted

is the neutral term for lacking cleanliness rather than emotional disgust
messy
vsdirty
233 1.0

Not tidy or clean, with things in the wrong place

focuses on general lack of cleanliness rather than only untidiness
filthy
vsdirty
183 1.5

Very dirty and covered with mud or dirt

expresses general lack of cleanliness without extreme intensity
dusty
vsdirty
100 1.0

Having a layer of dust that makes it look dirty

is the broader concept of lack of cleanliness not only about dust
muddy
vsdirty
73 1.1

Covered in mud and hard to walk on

is broader, applying to any lack of cleanliness not limited to mud
foul
vsdirty
30 2.7

Very dirty and bad to touch or smell

covers lack of cleanliness without implying strong disgust
grimy
vsdirty
22 3.7

Covered in thick dirt that makes something look and feel dirty

names general lack of cleanliness rather than long-set residue
grubby
vsdirty
17 1.4

Dirty and needing to be cleaned

is the broader concept of lack of cleanliness beyond mild stains
unsanitary
vsdirty
16 3.7

Not clean and likely to cause illness

describes lack of cleanliness without necessarily implying health risk
unwashed
vsdirty
8 1.0

Not washed with soap and water

covers general lack of cleanliness, not only missing washing
unclean
vsdirty
7 1.3

Dirty and covered in dust, food, or grease

is the general, widely used word for that lack of cleanliness
mucky
vsdirty
7 3.2

Dirty and covered in mud

describes general lack of cleanliness beyond mud specific cases
unhygienic
vsdirty
3 4.8

Not clean and likely to make people sick

describes general lack of cleanliness, not specifically poor hygiene
soiled
vsdirty
1 2.5

Not clean because it has mud or grease on it

refers to broader lack of cleanliness rather than isolated stains
germy
vsdirty
  • Informal
1 4.5

Dirty and covered with tiny living things that can make you sick

means lack of cleanliness without focusing only on germs
unbathed
vsdirty
1 4.3

Not washed recently and looking dirty

applies to lack of cleanliness more broadly than just missing a bath
all mucky
vsdirty
  • Informal
1 3.7

Covered all over with dirt or mud

is a specific form of lack of cleanliness focused on heavy mud
contaminated
vsdirty
4.7

Something that becomes unsafe because it touches something dirty or harmful

focuses on general lack of cleanliness, not on harm or impurity
unsanitized
vsdirty
  • US
5.7

Not cleaned and may have germs or dirt

describes lack of cleanliness rather than the process of sanitizing
begrimed
vsdirty
8.2

Covered thickly with dark dirt or soot

refers to simple lack of cleanliness, not heavy, thick covering

Antonyms

1.0

Free from dirt or harmful things

24 2.8

Clean and free from dirt or germs that can cause disease

Idioms

1 9.9

Leave a place very quickly

8.4

To talk about private or embarrassing family matters in public

8.6

To talk about private, embarrassing problems in public

9.5

Very quickly and suddenly without waiting or thinking

To talk about private, embarrassing things in front of other people

Compounds

dirty work
  • Informal
65 4.6

Unpleasant or shameful tasks that other people avoid

dirty laundry
  • Informal
22 5.3

Personal secrets that could cause embarrassment if made public

dirty word
  • NSFW
18 7.1

A word people think is rude or not polite

12 6.0

Secret dishonest actions that harm or make someone look bad, often in politics and business

12 4.3

Money that someone gets through illegal or dishonest actions

11 4.9

An unfair action meant to harm or cheat someone

dirty bomb
  • NSFW
10 7.7

A weapon that explodes and spreads radioactive material to contaminate an area, not a nuclear bomb

10 2.8

A look that shows dislike or anger

dirty joke
  • Offensive
8 7.2

A joke that talks about sex or private parts in a rude way

dirty old man
  • Offensive
8 8.4

An older man who makes sexual comments or touches younger people when they do not want him to

5 6.7

A tough cop in Clint Eastwood films and a nickname for similar officers

dirty war
  • Offensive
2 9.2

A secret campaign by a government against suspected opponents using kidnapping, torture, and murder

dirty dog
  • Offensive
2 8.0

A person who behaves badly or cheats others

dirty pool
  • Informal
2 8.2

Unfair or dishonest behavior in a competition

dirty weekend
  • Offensive
1 8.8

A weekend away by a couple for private sexual or romantic activities

1 4.1

Having a face covered in dirt

dirty story
  • Offensive
1 8.1

A joke or story about sex that people find rude

dirty thoughts
  • Offensive
1 7.2

Thoughts about sex that people think are improper or embarrassing

dirty linen
  • Informal
1 7.9

Private family or personal matters that embarrass people if the public finds out

8.9

A short secret trip for a romantic or sexual meeting, often an affair

dirty code
  • Jargon
7.2

Computer code that is badly written and hard to read or fix

6.6

A quick temporary solution made without care for small details

How Dirty

filthy
183 1.5
grimy
22 3.7
dirty
525 1.0
soiled
1 2.5
stained
1 2.6

Surface Forms

dirty positive
dirtier comparative
dirtiest superlative

Morphology

dirty = dirt (transparent) = dirt + y

The adjectival meaning 'not clean' is a direct and regular derivation from 'dirt' + '-y'.

Etymology

Dirty comes from the old English word dirt, which meant 'filth' or 'excrement'. So dirty originally meant 'covered with dirt', which is why we use it for things that are not clean.