DOWN AND DIRTY Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

down and dirty

adjective

Definition of down and dirty

as in impromptu

made or done without previous thought or preparation hoisting aloft the down and dirty sign that we had just made, we joined the protest

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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 down and dirty The Wilson, North Carolina native can get as down and dirty as your regular country boy and can also fit in among the greats. — Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 6 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for down and dirty

Adjective

By evening, vendors began wrapping up a busy day while Koguchi took the stage herself for an impromptu musical performance.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
In July, Jay-Z took aim at Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers star, mentioning him and his settlement with the NFL in an impromptu rap during a series of concerts at Yankee Stadium.

— Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of impromptu

Adjective

Fans of the popular comedy podcast were greeted with a generic British woman’s voice stating the episode number today instead of Watts’ improvisational beatboxing riff that served as the show’s intro since 2011.

— Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 24 Aug. 2026
The interactivity and reliance on improvisational actors limits audience size to around seven people at a time, Lyons said.

— David Bloom, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of improvisational

Adjective

That's enough to loosen steep slopes where some of the 210,000 islanders live off the grid in improvised housing.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Forecasters warn that up to 25 inches of rain and powerful winds could trigger life-threatening flooding, mudslides and even wildfires, especially in remote communities where many residents live off the grid in improvised housing.

— Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of improvised

Adjective

The state also had to use ad hoc estimates to pay health care providers.

— Renee Anderson, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026
The spacecraft unexpectedly remained intact after splashdown in the Indian Ocean last month, prompting SpaceX officials to come up with an ad hoc plan to recover the vehicle.

— Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of ad hoc

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down

down and dirty

down-and-out

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“Down and dirty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/down%20and%20dirty. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of down and dirty

adjective

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