dirtier; dirtiest
1
a
: not clean or pure
dirty clothes
dirty fingernails
b
: likely to befoul or defile with a soiling substance (such as mud, dust, or grime)
dirty jobs
c
: contaminated with infecting organisms
dirty wounds
d
: containing impurities
dirty coal
2
a
: morally unclean or corrupt: such as
(2)
: dishonorable, base
a dirty trick
(3)
: unsportsmanlike
dirty players
b
: acquired by disreputable or illegal means : ill-gotten
dirty money
c
: disagreeable, distasteful, or objectionable but usually necessary (as in achieving a desired result)
hired a thug to do their dirty work
3
a
: abominable, hateful
war is a dirty business
b
: highly regrettable
a dirty shame
c
: likely to cause disgrace or scandal
dirty little secrets
5
6
: conveying ill-natured resentment
gave him a dirty look
dirtier; dirtiest
: in a dirty (see dirty entry 1) manner: such as
a
: deceptively, underhandedly
fight dirty
b
: indecently
talk dirty
dirtied; dirtying
1
: to soil with a substance (such as mud or grime) : to make dirty (see dirty entry 1)
dirtied my new shoes
: to become soiled
Synonyms
Examples of dirty in a Sentence
Adjective
All my socks are dirty.
Try not to get your clothes dirty.
I can't breathe this dirty city air.
The baby has a dirty diaper.
I hate listening to his dirty jokes.
Adverb
Watch out for her. She plays dirty.
He usually wins because he fights dirty.
Verb
Take off your shoes to keep from dirtying the floor.
Her fingers were dirtied with ink.
Recent Examples on the Web
Dan Ikenson, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Yes, but: Charlie Bailey, a former Fulton County gang prosecutor who ran for lieutenant governor as a Democrat in 2022, told Axios that the RICO law was created to catch leaders of criminal organizations who weren't doing the dirty work.
—Kristal Dixon, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 26 Sep. 2024
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
Kenny Torrella, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Garments can be dirtied again by the elements if air-dried outside.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for dirty 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
Carbon emissions would increase because there is a dearth of renewables and the world would have to burn dirtier fossil fuels from non-Western entities.
—Dan Ikenson, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Yes, but: Charlie Bailey, a former Fulton County gang prosecutor who ran for lieutenant governor as a Democrat in 2022, told Axios that the RICO law was created to catch leaders of criminal organizations who weren't doing the dirty work.
—Kristal Dixon, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024
Adverb
Sonic Drive-In began offering the option to make its drinks dirty by adding coconut cream and lime for an additional charge.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 26 Sep. 2024
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
Verb
Instead, Walz seems to have little to say about factory farming dirtying the state’s waterways.
—Kenny Torrella, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Garments can be dirtied again by the elements if air-dried outside.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for dirty
Dictionary Entries Near dirty
Cite this Entry
“Dirty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dirty. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dirty
1 of 2 adjective
dirtier; dirtiest
1
: not clean
dirty clothes
dirty air
2
: unfair sense 1, dishonorable
a dirty trick
4
: disagreeable or objectionable but usually necessary (as in achieving a desired result)
had to scrub the floor and do other dirty work
5
: stormy sense 1
dirty weather
6
: not clear in color : dull
a dirty red
7
: showing dislike or anger
a dirty look
dirty
2 of 2 verb
dirtied; dirtying
: to make or become dirty
Medical Definition
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