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Definitions

dirty work

NOUN
unpleasant or tedious work
Synonyms


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.

The large accounting firms typically rely on junior auditors to do much of the dirty work.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Instead, it’s better to humor him by pursuing it and letting some element of the legal system—a judge, a grand jury—do the dirty work of keeping the rule of law at least somewhat intact.

From Slate • Feb. 14, 2026

Cybersecurity experts are warning that artificial intelligence agents, widely considered the next frontier in the generative AI revolution, could wind up getting hijacked and doing the dirty work for hackers.

From Barron's • Nov. 11, 2025

Ekitike's contribution deserves a deeper look because he is a tireless nuisance to opposition defences, willing to do the dirty work as well as grab the goalscoring glory.

From BBC • Sep. 20, 2025

Marshall didn’t want to know about Groves’s dirty work.

From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin




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