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dirty

dirty

296 6.4
Containing rude sexual words
  • adjective
  • /ˈdɜrti/
  • Offensive
: sucio
  • I love the idea of dirty talk and I try really hard.
  • talk dirty
  • dirty jokes
  • a dirty word

So get your mind off the magazines, you dirty minded little boy.

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Examples

  • All these years, he had shunned her and made her feel dirty about her sexuality.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • She was shocked by the dirty content of the movie, which was filled with sexual references.

  • Why do you make me speak dirty Spanish?

  • Oh, I love when you talk dirty.

  • And now you get to hear all my dirty little secrets.

  • "We're going to his office for a quick and dirty briefing," he said.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • You know, we shouldn't have aired the dirty laundry in public.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The comedian's routine included a lot of dirty jokes that made the audience laugh uncomfortably.

  • During the party, they shared some dirty secrets that left everyone blushing.

Synonyms

naughty
vsdirty
  • NSFW
192 4.8

Slightly sexual in a playful way that may make people blush

is more offensive or considered clearly rude rather than playful
foul
vsdirty
  • NSFW
80 4.7

Containing rude or offensive language

is similar but can refer to nonsexual nastiness
crude
vsdirty
  • Offensive
52 5.1

Being rude and offensive, often about sex

is similar but stresses lack of refinement not only sexual content
vulgar
vsdirty
  • Offensive
52 6.5

Being rude and indecent in words or behaviour

is broader and not always about sexual matters
filthy
vsdirty
  • Offensive
44 4.7

Words or jokes that are rude and about sex

is similar but can be less graphic or shocking
lewd
vsdirty
  • Offensive
33 7.4

Sexually offensive or indecent in a way that shocks people

is similar but not always intended to arouse
racy
vsdirty
  • NSFW
18 7.9

Slightly shocking because it talks about sex in a rude or funny way

is similar but can be more plainly rude or indecent
raunchy
vsdirty
  • Offensive
17 8.6

Content about sex that is rude and shocking

is similar but may be less shocking or more polite
spicy
vsdirty
  • NSFW
11 7.0

Stories or jokes that suggest sex and may make people feel embarrassed

is similar but often subtler and less explicit
smutty
vsdirty
  • Offensive
3 7.9

Containing sexual jokes or rude words

is similar but may be less explicitly obscene
bawdy
vsdirty
  • NSFW
1 9.5

Sexual talk or writing that is rude and shocking

is used more widely and not limited to speech or texts

Antonyms

396 2.8

Having good moral behavior

1 2.7

Modest in behavior or dress so it does not seem sexual

Idioms

7 8.4

To talk about private or embarrassing family matters in public

1 9.5

Very quickly and suddenly without waiting or thinking

1 8.6

To talk about private, embarrassing problems in public

1 9.9

Leave a place very quickly

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

Compounds

dirty work
  • Informal
72 4.6

Unpleasant or shameful tasks that other people avoid

dirty laundry
  • Informal
32 5.3

Personal secrets that could cause embarrassment if made public

dirty word
  • NSFW
26 7.1

A word people think is rude or not polite

dirty bomb
  • NSFW
25 7.7

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

22 6.0

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

18 4.3

Money that someone gets through illegal or dishonest actions

15 6.7

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

13 2.8

A look that shows dislike or anger

12 4.9

An unfair action meant to harm or cheat someone

dirty joke
  • Offensive
11 7.2

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

dirty old man
  • Offensive
10 8.4

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

dirty dog
  • Offensive
9 8.0

A person who behaves badly or cheats others

dirty pool
  • Informal
3 8.2

Unfair or dishonest behavior in a competition

3 4.1

Having a face covered in dirt

dirty war
  • Offensive
2 9.2

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

dirty weekend
  • Offensive
2 8.8

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

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

1 6.6

A quick temporary solution made without care for small details

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

How Indecent

pornographic
  • Offensive
45 7.2
lewd
  • Offensive
33 7.4
dirty
  • Offensive
296 6.4
suggestive
  • Offensive
14 6.0

Surface Forms

dirty positive
dirtier comparative
dirtiest superlative

Morphology

dirty = dirt (semi-transparent) = dirt + y

The sexual/indecent sense is a figurative extension (morally or socially 'unclean'), so the relation to 'dirt' is visible but not strictly derivational for learners.

Etymology

Dirty for rude or sexual language comes from the idea of 'filth'. So calling words 'dirty' means they are seen as 'unclean' or improper.