Disgust is a powerful feeling that we’ve all experienced. Sometimes it hits us when we see something gross, smell something awful, or even hear about something that just turns our stomachs. But putting that feeling into words can be tricky. That’s where similes come in. Similes compare one thing to another using “like” or “as,” making it much easier to describe just how revolting something truly feels.
In this article, we will explore different similes for disgusting. Each one paints a vivid, colorful picture of exactly how gross, nasty, or stomach-turning a situation, object, or feeling can be. By the end of this post, you’ll have a whole set of new ways to describe anything that leaves you wrinkling your nose or gagging a little inside!
Similes for Disgusting
1. Disgusting as rotten meat
Meaning: Extremely foul-smelling and decayed.
In a Sentence: The trash smelled as disgusting as rotten meat left out in the sun for days.
Other Ways to Say: Putrid as spoiled food, Revolting as sour milk
2. Disgusting as moldy bread
Meaning: Nasty, old, and inedible.
In a Sentence: That sandwich was as disgusting as moldy bread forgotten in the back of a cupboard.
Other Ways to Say: Gross as decayed food, Unappetizing as a rotten apple
3. Disgusting as sewage water
Meaning: Filthy and extremely unpleasant.
In a Sentence: The flooded basement was as disgusting as sewage water oozing everywhere.
Other Ways to Say: Filthy as a dirty river, Foul as an open sewer
4. Disgusting as a clogged drain
Meaning: Gross and slimy, filled with unwanted filth.
In a Sentence: Cleaning out the hair from the bathroom sink was as disgusting as a clogged drain after a year.
Other Ways to Say: Slimy as a blocked pipe, Nasty as grimy water
5. Disgusting as spoiled milk
Meaning: Sour, putrid, and stomach-turning.
In a Sentence: The smell of the fridge was as disgusting as spoiled milk after a power outage.
Other Ways to Say: Sour as curdled cream, Nauseating as old dairy
6. Disgusting as a dumpster in summer
Meaning: Overwhelmingly stinky and vile.
In a Sentence: The alleyway smelled as disgusting as a dumpster in the middle of a hot summer day.
Other Ways to Say: Reeking as old garbage, Rank as rotting waste
7. Disgusting as sweaty gym socks
Meaning: Strongly unpleasant and musty.
In a Sentence: After soccer practice, the locker room smelled as disgusting as sweaty gym socks left to ferment.
Other Ways to Say: Funky as unwashed clothes, Stinky as dirty laundry
8. Disgusting as slimy pond scum
Meaning: Repulsively slimy and gross.
In a Sentence: Stepping into that murky puddle felt as disgusting as touching slimy pond scum with bare feet.
Other Ways to Say: Slippery as wet algae, Gooey as swamp muck
9. Disgusting as a filthy public restroom
Meaning: Absolutely unsanitary and repellent.
In a Sentence: The gas station bathroom was as disgusting as a filthy public restroom no one had cleaned for a month.
Other Ways to Say: Nasty as a broken toilet, Repulsive as grimy tiles
10. Disgusting as a dead fish on the shore
Meaning: Stinking, decaying, and revolting.
In a Sentence: The beach smelled as disgusting as dead fish rotting under the hot sun.
Other Ways to Say: Foul as decomposing flesh, Sickening as beach rot
11. Disgusting as a plate of cold, greasy food
Meaning: Sickeningly unappetizing and heavy.
In a Sentence: The leftovers were as disgusting as a plate of cold, greasy food sitting out all night.
Other Ways to Say: Greasy as old pizza, Off-putting as soggy fries
12. Disgusting as a wet, dirty sponge
Meaning: Smelly, gross, and slimy to the touch.
In a Sentence: Picking up that kitchen sponge was as disgusting as handling a wet, dirty rag crawling with germs.
Other Ways to Say: Slimy as a forgotten dishcloth, Revolting as damp mildew
13. Disgusting as a maggot-infested wound
Meaning: Horrifyingly gross and repulsive.
In a Sentence: The old meat was as disgusting as a maggot-infested wound left to fester in the sun.
Other Ways to Say: Sickening as rotting flesh, Revolting as crawling decay
14. Disgusting as a plate of moldy cheese
Meaning: Rotten, smelly, and absolutely unappealing.
In a Sentence: That abandoned fridge was as disgusting as a plate of moldy cheese gone completely blue and fuzzy.
Other Ways to Say: Rancid as forgotten dairy, Stinking as aged leftovers
15. Disgusting as spoiled eggs
Meaning: Terribly foul-smelling and rotten.
In a Sentence: Cracking open that ancient carton of eggs was as disgusting as discovering spoiled eggs on a hot day.
Other Ways to Say: Reeking as sulfur, Rank as rotten breakfast
16. Disgusting as a trash pile in the rain
Meaning: Wet, smelly, and overwhelmingly gross.
In a Sentence: The back alley was as disgusting as a trash pile soaking and festering in the rain.
Other Ways to Say: Mushy as soggy garbage, Repugnant as soaked waste
17. Disgusting as a vomit stain on carpet
Meaning: Absolutely stomach-churning and foul.
In a Sentence: Cleaning up after the party was as disgusting as scrubbing a vomit stain deep into the carpet fibers.
Other Ways to Say: Sickening as bile, Revolting as old messes
18. Disgusting as a cat hairball
Meaning: Gross, slimy, and gag-inducing.
In a Sentence: Stepping barefoot on that clump was as disgusting as finding a fresh cat hairball in the hallway.
Other Ways to Say: Slippery as goo, Gross as pet mess
19. Disgusting as old shrimp
Meaning: Intensely smelly and decomposing.
In a Sentence: The kitchen trash smelled as disgusting as old shrimp left festering for days.
Other Ways to Say: Pungent as bad seafood, Nauseating as fishy rot
20. Disgusting as a smelly sock pile
Meaning: Musty, sweaty, and highly unpleasant.
In a Sentence: His bedroom was as disgusting as a smelly sock pile no one dared to touch.
Other Ways to Say: Funky as an old gym bag, Stinky as forgotten laundry
21. Disgusting as mildew on shower curtains
Meaning: Musty, slimy, and unhealthy.
In a Sentence: The bathroom reeked as disgusting as mildew growing thickly across the shower curtain.
Other Ways to Say: Musty as damp towels, Moldy as forgotten basements
22. Disgusting as chewing gum stuck under a table
Meaning: Nasty, germ-filled, and revolting to touch.
In a Sentence: Accidentally brushing my hand under the desk was as disgusting as touching years-old chewing gum.
Other Ways to Say: Sticky as old candy, Gross as public benches
23. Disgusting as leftover soup gone sour
Meaning: Rotten, slimy, and foul-smelling.
In a Sentence: The container was as disgusting as leftover soup gone sour and forgotten in the back of the fridge.
Other Ways to Say: Stinking as rotting vegetables, Putrid as spoiled stew
24. Disgusting as a public pool drain
Meaning: Slimy, grimy, and deeply unsettling.
In a Sentence: The smell near the corner was as disgusting as the grimy public pool drain nobody ever cleaned.
Other Ways to Say: Funky as old chlorine, Murky as abandoned water
25. Disgusting as a bug-infested fruit
Meaning: Rotten, crawling with insects, and totally inedible.
In a Sentence: The apple was as disgusting as a bug-infested fruit rotting on the ground.
Other Ways to Say: Creepy as spoiled produce, Gross as wormy berries
26. Disgusting as a blood-stained bandage
Meaning: Revolting, unsanitary, and disturbing.
In a Sentence: The sight of that old rag was as disgusting as a blood-stained bandage from an abandoned first aid kit.
Other Ways to Say: Grimy as dirty gauze, Sickening as old wounds
27. Disgusting as dirty fingernails
Meaning: Gross and unhygienic.
In a Sentence: His hands looked as disgusting as dirty fingernails after a day of digging through trash.
Other Ways to Say: Filthy as a coal miner’s hands, Grubby as a mud puddle
28. Disgusting as a dead rat in the wall
Meaning: Horribly smelly and deeply unsettling.
In a Sentence: The stench in the house was as disgusting as a dead rat hidden inside the walls.
Other Ways to Say: Foul as decay, Revolting as hidden death
29. Disgusting as a grease trap at a restaurant
Meaning: Overwhelmingly filthy and nauseating.
In a Sentence: That back alley was as disgusting as a grease trap that hadn’t been emptied for months.
Other Ways to Say: Reeking as old fryer oil, Gag-worthy as grimy kitchens
30. Disgusting as old bandages in a hospital trash
Meaning: Smelly, dirty, and filled with bacteria.
In a Sentence: The hospital trash smelled as disgusting as old bandages tossed carelessly into a bin.
Other Ways to Say: Unhygienic as medical waste, Sickening as dirty linens
31. Disgusting as crusty dishes in the sink
Meaning: Smelly, old, and moldy.
In a Sentence: The kitchen looked as disgusting as crusty dishes piled high and forgotten for a week.
Other Ways to Say: Gross as sour plates, Foul as forgotten leftovers
32. Disgusting as hair in the shower drain
Meaning: Slimy, gross, and stomach-turning.
In a Sentence: Pulling that clump was as disgusting as hair tangled in a slimy shower drain.
Other Ways to Say: Icky as wet fur, Slimy as soap scum
33. Disgusting as baby spit-up
Meaning: Sour-smelling and messy.
In a Sentence: The couch smelled as disgusting as baby spit-up soaked deep into the cushions.
Other Ways to Say: Sour as spoiled milk, Nasty as old formula
34. Disgusting as a sweaty wrestling mat
Meaning: Strongly unpleasant and sweaty.
In a Sentence: The gym floor smelled as disgusting as a sweaty wrestling mat at the end of a tournament.
Other Ways to Say: Stinky as gym socks, Funky as sweaty jerseys
35. Disgusting as spoiled meat left in the car
Meaning: Absolutely stomach-churning and unbearable.
In a Sentence: That abandoned car was as disgusting as spoiled meat roasting under the blazing sun.
Other Ways to Say: Putrid as old groceries, Rank as forgotten food
Practical Exercise
Fill in the blanks:
- After the power went out, the kitchen smelled as disgusting as _______.
- Cleaning the clogged bathroom sink was as disgusting as _______.
- The old sandwich in my locker was as disgusting as _______.
- Picking up the wet towel from the floor was as disgusting as _______.
- The abandoned house smelled as disgusting as _______.
- That forgotten container in the fridge was as disgusting as _______.
- Cleaning the garage drain felt as disgusting as _______.
- Stepping into that puddle felt as disgusting as _______.
- The trash can in summer smelled as disgusting as _______.
- The locker room after the game was as disgusting as _______.
- The roadside ditch was as disgusting as _______.
- Accidentally touching the underside of the table was as disgusting as _______.
Answers
rotten meat, clogged drain, moldy bread, wet dirty sponge, dead rat, leftover soup, grease trap, slimy pond scum, dumpster in summer, sweaty gym socks, sewage water, old chewing gum
Conclusion
Similes are a vivid and powerful way to describe even the grossest, nastiest, most disgusting things we come across. By comparing our feelings of disgust to strong and familiar images, we can make our descriptions more intense, more colorful, and way more memorable. Whether you’re describing the stench of rotten meat, the slimy feel of a dirty sponge, or the repulsive sight of moldy bread, these similes give you the words you need to capture exactly how awful it feels. Keep practicing with them, and soon you’ll be a master of painting the grossest pictures with your words!
