filthy

1 of 2

adjective

ˈfil-thē How to pronounce filthy (audio)
filthier; filthiest
Synonyms of filthynext
1
: covered with, containing, or characterized by filth : very dirty
filthy streets
filthy dishes
2
a
: underhand, vile
a filthy lie
b
: obscene sense 2b, indecent
a filthy joke
He has a filthy mouth. [= he uses indecent language]
filthily
ˈfil-thə-lē How to pronounce filthy (audio)
adverb
filthiness
ˈfil-thē-nəs How to pronounce filthy (audio)
noun

filthy

2 of 2

adverb

1
: in a filthy manner
filthy dirty
2
: very, exceedingly
filthy rich

Synonyms of filthy

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Adjective

Adverb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for filthy

dirty, filthy, foul, nasty, squalid mean conspicuously unclean or impure.

dirty emphasizes the presence of dirt more than an emotional reaction to it.

a dirty littered street

filthy carries a strong suggestion of offensiveness and typically of gradually accumulated dirt that begrimes and besmears.

a stained greasy floor, utterly filthy

foul implies extreme offensiveness and an accumulation of what is rotten or stinking.

a foul-smelling open sewer

nasty applies to what is actually foul or is repugnant to one expecting freshness, cleanliness, or sweetness.

it's a nasty job to clean up after a sick cat

In practice, nasty is often weakened to the point of being no more than a synonym of unpleasant or disagreeable.

had a nasty fall
his answer gave her a nasty shock

squalid adds to the idea of dirtiness and filth that of slovenly neglect.

squalid slums

All these terms are also applicable to moral uncleanness or baseness or obscenity.

dirty then stresses meanness or despicableness,

don't ask me to do your dirty work

while filthy and foul describe disgusting obscenity or loathsome behavior,

filthy street language
a foul story of lust and greed

and nasty implies a peculiarly offensive unpleasantness.

a stand-up comedian known for nasty humor

Distinctively, squalid implies sordidness as well as baseness and dirtiness.

engaged in a series of squalid affairs

Examples of filthy in a Sentence

Adjective She's in a filthy mood. you cannot use such filthy language on the public airwaves Adverb the invention made him filthy rich
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
The game starts with a flashback 30 years ago to a feral, filthy Wolverine who’s living alone in the wilderness. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026 Few things at airports irritate customers like filthy toilets or water on the restroom floor. — Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 2026 His greatest series let people see a character who has revealed the filthiest, most shameful parts of themselves, and imagine them as a mirror. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 8 Aug. 2026 Also in July, following a tenant’s eviction, the NYPD and ASPCA discovered nine dead cats inside the filthy, unkempt Queens apartment. — Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for filthy

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of filthy was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing filthy

Browse Nearby Words

filthiness
filthy
filthy dirty
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Filthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/filthy. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

filthy

adjective
ˈfil-thē
filthier; filthiest
1
: covered with or containing filth : disgustingly dirty
2
a
: underhand entry 2 sense 1, evil
b
: obscene sense 2
filthily
-thə-lē
adverb
filthiness
-thē-nəs
noun

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