Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

dirty

[dur-tee] / ˈdɜr ti /
ADJECTIVE
soiled, unclean
Synonyms
STRONGEST
contaminated crummy disheveled dusty filthy greasy grimy messy muddy murky nasty polluted sloppy stained unkempt
STRONG
bedraggled begrimed defiled disarrayed foul fouled smudged spattered spotted sullied
WEAK
cruddy dreggy dungy grubby grungy icky lousy mucky scummy scuzzy slatternly slimy slovenly sooty squalid straggly undusted unhygienic unlaundered unsanitary unsightly unswept untidy unwashed yucky
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bright clean clear ordered orderly sterile
STRONG
neat
WEAK
spotless
ADJECTIVE
obscene, pornographic
Synonyms
STRONGEST
coarse filthy nasty
STRONG
base blue low mean unclean
WEAK
contemptible despicable immoral impure indecent lewd off-color ribald risqué salacious scatological scurvy smutty sordid squalid unchaste uncleanly vile vulgar
Antonyms
STRONGEST
clean decent
STRONG
moral
WEAK
nice pure spotless upright
ADJECTIVE
dishonest
Synonyms
STRONGEST
sleazy
STRONG
cheating corrupt crooked foul
WEAK
below the belt deceitful double-dealing shabby shady shifty sneaky sordid underhanded unethical unscrupulous untruthful
Antonyms
STRONG
clean good honest moral pure
WEAK
nice spotless upright
VERB
cause to be soiled
Synonyms
STRONGEST
blacken smear smudge sully
STRONG
begrime blotch blur coat contaminate corrupt debase defile discolor encrust foul grime muddy mung pollute smoke smutch spatter spoil spot stain sweat taint tar tarnish
WEAK
besoil make dusty make impure mess up
Antonyms
STRONG
clean cleanse clear flourish grow improve purify sterilize

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

My cousin Qiaolian once told me about the day she first met me: I was a malnourished, dusty and snotty infant, not even a full year old, wrapped in a dirty blanket and kept hidden.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

He added that he thinks a draw will be a "good point" for Arsenal, who may need to "play dirty".

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

"I know there are many who use 'socialist' as a dirty word, something to be ashamed of," the 34-year-old told a packed room in Queens.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

I’m always really interested in, “What is the dirty underneath? If we go one level deeper, what is the thing that the person is not saying?”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

I was a Hello Girl and now I am here, a hermit in a boardinghouse, protected by a disheveled fortress of my dirty clothes and empty tins, and Theo knows absolutely nothing.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse