different between dirty vs stinky

English

Etymology

From Middle English dirti, alteration of earlier dritti, equivalent to dirt +? -y. See also drite.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?d??ti/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?d?ti/, [?d??i]
• Rhymes: -??(?)ti

Adjective

dirty (comparative dirtier, superlative dirtiest)

1. Unclean; covered with or containing unpleasant substances such as dirt or grime.

   Synonyms: filthy, soiled, sordid, unclean, unwashed; see also Thesaurus:unclean

   Antonyms: clean; see also Thesaurus:clean

2. That makes one unclean; corrupting, infecting.

3. Morally unclean; obscene or indecent, especially sexually.

   Synonyms: indecent, lewd, obscene, raunchy, salacious

4. Dishonourable; violating accepted standards or rules.

   Synonyms: cheating, foul, unsporting, unsportsmanlike

   Antonym: sportsmanlike

5. Corrupt, illegal, or improper.

   Synonyms: base, dishonest, dishonorable, filthy, despicable, lousy, mean, sordid, unethical, vile

6. Out of tune.

7. Of color, discolored by impurities.

   Synonyms: dingy, dullish, muddied, muddy

   Antonyms: bright, pure

8. (computing) Containing data needing to be written back to memory or disk.

9. (slang) Carrying illegal drugs among one's possessions or inside of one's bloodstream.

10. (informal) Used as an intensifier, especially in conjunction with "great".

11. Sleety; gusty; stormy.
    • 1867, Matthew Arnold, On the Study of Celtic Literature

      Storms of wind, clouds of dust, an angry, dirty sea.

12. (slang) Of an alcoholic beverage, especially a cocktail or mixed drink: served with the juice of olives.

    Antonym: neat

13. Of food, indulgent in an unhealthy way.
    • 2020, Mellissa Sevigny, Squeaky Clean Keto: Next Level Keto to Hack Your Health, Victory Belt Publishing (?ISBN), page 13:

      Dirty keto refers to an approach that follows the typical keto macro ratios, but the components include “dirty” foods like fast food, packaged convenience foods, processed meats, artificially sweetened diet sodas and sports drinks, and unhealthy ...

14. Spreading harmful radiation over a wide area.

    a dirty explosion

    a dirty bomb

15. (Utah) Of a carbonated soft drink (soda or coke), the addition of an extra flavor shot, such as those sold by chains Sodalicious and Swig

Derived terms

Translations

Adverb

dirty (comparative more dirty, superlative most dirty)

1. In a dirty manner.

   Synonyms: deceptively, dirtily, indecently, underhandedly

Derived terms

• talk dirty

Translations

Verb

dirty (third-person singular simple present dirties, present participle dirtying, simple past and past participle dirtied)

1. (transitive) To make (something) dirty.

   Synonyms: soil, taint; see also Thesaurus:dirty

2. (transitive) To stain or tarnish (somebody) with dishonor.

   Synonym: sully

3. (transitive) To debase by distorting the real nature of (something).
4. (intransitive) To become soiled.

Translations

References

English

Etymology

From Middle English stinky, stynky, equivalent to stink +? -y. Compare Dutch stinkig (“stinky, foul, rotten”), German stinkig (“stinky”), Hunsrik stinkich.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?st??ki/
• Rhymes: -??ki

Adjective

stinky (comparative stinkier or more stinky, superlative stinkiest or most stinky)

1. Having a strong, unpleasant smell; stinking.
2. (informal) Bad, undesirable.
   • 1991, Theresa P. Gladden, Romancing Susan,^[1] Bantam Books, ?ISBN, page 37,

     […] she walked over to the table and switched off the Walkman as she sat down.

     “Hey!” Nikki yelped. “That was a stinky thing to do. That was my favorite song.”

   • 2003, Betty Levin, Shoddy Cove,^[2] HarperCollins, ?ISBN, page 151,

     “School all year round.” The father groaned. “What a good idea.”

     “Stupid, stinky idea,” a child remarked from across the room.

   • 2007, Aletha V. Smithson, “Pacifier Breaking” (poem), in As He Was Known,^[3] AuthorHouse, ?ISBN, page 172,

     The binky drifted up and far away,

     To the man in the moon, I heard them say;

     A cute idea but a rotten stinky plan.

Derived terms

• stinkily
• stinkiness

Translations