1
as in soil
the loose surface material in which plants naturally grow
dig into the dirt to a depth of about three inches
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
3
as in muck
foul matter that mars the purity or cleanliness of something
there's some dirt on your shoes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in grossness
the quality or state of being obscene
appalled by the dirt in the author's novels
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in dung
solid matter discharged from an animal's alimentary canal
tread carefully, as there's cow dirt all over the pasture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dirt
The longest race of Saturday’s program so far at 1 1/16 miles on the Laurel Park dirt featured perhaps the most thrilling finish of the morning and early afternoon.
—
Taylor Lyons, Baltimore Sun, 16 May 2026
On this night, the hardwood bruises had given way to dirt and pine tar.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Chu loves hyperrealism or using an ombré effect to mimic dirt, giving it a grungy feel.
—Diana Tsui, Footwear News, 15 May 2026
The trailer park’s main drag was paved, but at the stake fence that marked its end, the asphalt turned to hardpan dirt.
—Stephen King, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dirt
Taylor Lyons, Baltimore Sun, 16 May 2026
On this night, the hardwood bruises had given way to dirt and pine tar.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Chu loves hyperrealism or using an ombré effect to mimic dirt, giving it a grungy feel.
—Diana Tsui, Footwear News, 15 May 2026
The trailer park’s main drag was paved, but at the stake fence that marked its end, the asphalt turned to hardpan dirt.
—Stephen King, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dirt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dirt
Noun
-
For gardeners, or hope-to-be gardeners, summer is the season to try to new plants, design a new garden bed, amend soil, and more.—
Hiranmayi Srinivasan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 May 2026
-
The tests are intended to evaluate how the product performs across a range of soils, climates, and agricultural conditions.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Partly correct on raw land use — but misleading in practice.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
People see it as part of a wider pattern where affluent estate owners increasingly close off rural land, citing privacy, protection, and security concerns while gradually restricting spaces that local communities historically enjoyed.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
To clean door seals, if applicable, use vinegar or other cleaners to help keep out mold and muck.—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
16 May 2026
-
But during World War II, about 20,000 acres of Lake Apopka’s north shore were drained and converted into muck farms to grow vegetables needed to feed troops for a nation at war with Axis forces in Europe, Africa and the Pacific.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
There are no great surprises from here on out, though the sheer, lusty grossness of the fallout is occasionally startling.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
-
If an exclamation point only signified gore and grossness, this gothic rock opera would more than qualify.—
Rachel Simon,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Release of dung increases soil organic carbon and helps build soil structure that improves water filtration and soil aeration.—
Paige Stein,
Hartford Courant,
4 May 2026
-
They can be sampled using standardized trapping methods worldwide, since they are easily attracted to dung and carrion, which allows for comparable data across different regions.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The resort has multiple buildings, but everything is walkable, and the carefully landscaped grounds and paths are almost jungle-like, further enhancing the natural setting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
-
And there are the activities, notably multiple golf courses, but also 100 acres of sporting grounds, sports courts, and an array of wellness and fitness facilities, as well as almost a dozen dining venues that offer everything from a snack to an epicurean feast.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
16 May 2026
Noun
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The remaining flood water quickly turned toxic with an acrid mix of sewage and fuel oil used for heating, cooking and fueling snowmobiles and ATVs.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
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Out back, a small sewage-treatment plant converts bodily waste from two flanking portable toilets into purified water, which is piped into a large tank in which yet another unclothed woman, wearing a scuba mouthpiece, floats for four hours at a time.—
Sebastian Smee,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
In addition, prosecutors say swastikas, antisemitic slogans and vulgarity were spray-painted on pillars underneath M-53 and Canal, a brick wall near a business and an electrical box at a second business.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
His vulgarity, insults and threats do not make America great.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dirt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dirt. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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