smutty

USAGE SUMMARY

Sentence The word 'smutty' is considered correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is considered lewd, obscene, or indecent. For example: "The comedian's smutty jokes were not appropriate for the family-friendly show."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Most said they hated the images, which led to sneers and smutty jokes on buses and in workplaces.

The Guardian - Opinion

When female rappers and R&B icons of the 90s and early 00s used this method (Tweet's Oops Oh My, Janet Jackson's Take Care and Lil Kimm's Queen Bitch to name a smutty few), it was a powerful tool which pushed back on the idea that women needed men.

The Guardian - Music

The scandal is, of course, the Foley affair, involving a congressman, smutty e-mails and young men.

The Economist

Look at a smutty picture and, according to research by Steven Most, of Yale University, and his colleagues, you will suffer from a temporary condition known as emotion-induced blindness.Dr Most made this discovery while studying the rubbernecking effect (when people slow down to stare at a car accident).

The Economist

Mr Moers, the clever author of the smutty and mildly subversive Kleine Arschloch (Little Arsehole) comics, has another success on his hands.

The Economist

FANS of smutty websites may resist giving personal information to porn barons.

The Economist

Mr Franken wrote some smutty jokes, and was found to have neglected to pay some old taxes, which hurt him in his squeaky-clean state.The result of the vote was too close to call on election night.

The Economist

Like the pyrotechnics, Chinese text messages come in a variety of colours: yellow, grey, black and now, with official endorsement, red.Yellow refers to the smutty type, and grey or black to spam messages, many of which offer products or services of various shades of legality.

The Economist

In Minnesota, the moderate Norm Coleman was ahead of Al Franken, a smutty comedian with a serious side, by about 470 votes out of nearly 3m cast, a margin so slim it will trigger an automatic recount which could take several weeks.

The Economist

In 1998, for example, a Bavarian court sentenced a former head of the German subsidiary of CompuServe, an online service, to two years in jail on charges of knowingly facilitating the dissemination of illegal pornographic pictures; the court found that he could have built electronic "firewalls" to prevent the spread of smutty material.

The Economist

In some American companies, sending an e-mail with a smutty joke can get you fired.More dangerous than dirt, though, is anger.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "smutty", consider your audience and the context. While it can be appropriate in certain humorous or informal settings, it may be offensive in more formal or professional environments.

Common error

Avoid using "smutty" when you intend to describe something that is simply silly or lighthearted. "Smutty" carries a strong connotation of sexual impropriety and is not interchangeable with less offensive terms.

Linguistic Context

The word "smutty" primarily functions as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something as obscene, indecent, or characterized by lewd content. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is usable in written English, especially to describe jokes or material.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "smutty" is an adjective used to describe something obscene or indecent, with a predominantly negative connotation. According to Ludwig AI, the word is considered correct and usable in written English. Its usage is most common in news and media, and it's essential to consider your audience and context when using it, as it may be inappropriate in formal settings. While "smutty" is widely used, alternatives like "lewd" or "obscene" might be more suitable depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lewd

Focuses on the overt and offensive nature of the sexual content.

obscene

Emphasizes the offensive and morally reprehensible nature of the content.

indecent

Highlights the violation of accepted standards of propriety and morality.

salacious

Emphasizes the arousing or appealing to sexual desire or imagination.

bawdy

Suggests a coarse and humorous type of sexual content.

risqué

Indicates something borderline indecent or sexually suggestive.

blue

Implies the use of off-color language or jokes.

suggestive

Focuses on hinting at something sexual without being explicit.

dirty

Emphasizes the scandalous or morally questionable nature of the content.

vulgar

Highlights the lack of refinement and good taste.

FAQs

How can I use "smutty" in a sentence?

You can use "smutty" to describe jokes, material, or content that is considered lewd, obscene, or indecent. For example, "The comedian told a few "smutty jokes" that made some audience members uncomfortable."

What's a less offensive alternative to "smutty"?

If you want to avoid being too explicit or potentially offensive, you could use alternatives like "suggestive", "risqué", or "bawdy", depending on the context.

What is the difference between "smutty" and "vulgar"?

"Smutty" specifically implies sexually explicit or suggestive content, while "vulgar" refers to a lack of refinement or good taste in general, not necessarily related to sex.

Is it appropriate to use "smutty" in formal writing?

Generally, no. "Smutty" is considered an informal term. In formal writing, it's best to use more neutral or clinical terms like "obscene" or "indecent" if you need to describe such content.