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adverb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective filthy differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of filthy are dirty, foul, nasty, and squalid. While all these words mean "conspicuously unclean or impure," filthy carries a strong suggestion of offensiveness and typically of gradually accumulated dirt that begrimes and besmears. Figuratively, it can also describe disgusting obscenity.

a stained greasy floor, utterly filthy
filthy street language

When might dirty be a better fit than filthy?

In some situations, the words dirty and filthy are roughly equivalent. However, dirty emphasizes the presence of dirt more than an emotional reaction to it or, figuratively, stresses meanness or despicableness.

a dirty littered street
don't ask me to do your dirty work

When would foul be a good substitute for filthy?

The words foul and filthy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, foul implies extreme offensiveness and an accumulation of what is rotten or stinking; it can also describe, for example, loathsome behavior.

a foul-smelling open sewer
a foul story of lust and greed

How is nasty related to other words for filthy?

Nasty applies to what is actually foul or is repugnant to one expecting freshness, cleanliness, or sweetness; in practice, however, nasty is often weakened to the point of being no more than a synonym of unpleasant or disagreeable. When used figuratively, nasty implies a peculiarly offensive unpleasantness.

it's a nasty job to clean up after a sick cat
had a nasty fall
his answer gave her a nasty shock
a stand-up comedian known for nasty humor

In what contexts can squalid take the place of filthy?

The synonyms squalid and filthy are sometimes interchangeable, but squalid adds to the idea of dirtiness and filth that of slovenly neglect. Distinctively, its figurative use implies sordidness as well as baseness and dirtiness.

squalid slums
engaged in a series of squalid affairs

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of filthy
Adjective
Her house is always cluttered, with dirty countertops, tabletops, filthy floors and toilets. Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2025 Chicagoans will have no one to hold accountable at the ballot box when the buses don’t arrive and rail stations are filthy and crime-ridden. Forrest Claypool, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025 The plastic waste China received was filthy, much of it too dirty to be cleaned, shredded, and turned into new plastic. Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025 So far, these two troublesome and filthy strangers haven’t found any takers, but Baucis and Philemon welcome them in, no questions asked. Hannah Gold, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for filthy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for filthy
Adjective
  • Deputies found and arrested Betancourt, who was sentenced March 21 to six years and eight months in state prison for felony child abuse causing injury, felony domestic violence, witness intimidation, and possession of obscene matter depicting persons under age 18 engaged in lewd conduct.
    Bay City News Service, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Lovable, charming and generous, yet temperamental, arrogant and obscene.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Listen to this article Surrounded by coal miners, President Donald Trump signed an executive order vowing to roll back his predecessor’s policies limiting lung-damaging, climate-changing pollution from power plants that burn the planet’s dirtiest source of energy.
    Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
  • The floors are getting dirty and workers have no access to vacuums or mops.
    Lisa Song, ProPublica, 11 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • Western Conference Finals Potential Opponents: Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves or Golden State Warriors The expectation is that the Thunder will have a clear path to the Western Conference Finals, which will undoubtedly be an extremely tough series.
    Nick Crain, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Revel is extremely talented, but the Bills need a corner who can step in and be good to go from the beginning of the season.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The Europeans were enchanted by the expressive fluency that the New York critics had considered vulgar.
    David Denby, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The chief spoke at the LAPD’s Police Commission weekly meeting Tuesday, a day after news broke that officers from the department’s recruitment and employment division had been unknowingly recorded making vulgar comments, including while talking about police applicants.
    Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • On the outskirts of Lima, Peru, locals stumbled upon some dusty items in a vacant lot.
    Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Meanwhile, Andrea Taylor, owner of Andrea Marino Design in Dallas, Texas, has noticed an uptick in mauve, dusty blue, and butter yellow fabrics.
    Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • Miami closed to within 85-79 very late in the third, a stretch when Miami briefly gave the Cavs problems with their zone defense.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Press very firmly into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
    Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • An incredibly realistic short almond nail set that may just have your friends fooled.
    Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 14 Apr. 2025
  • McIlroy came out incredibly hot, turning a two-shot deficit to Justin Rose into a three-shot lead in just over an hour.
    David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Switching out a pump in a pit filled with raw sewage is nasty work.
    Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 12 Apr. 2025
  • The bear is back and things may stay nasty for the rest of 2025.
    Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Filthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/filthy. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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