Some things make us feel gross or uncomfortable. We don’t always want to say “that’s gross” or “yucky” all the time. There are other ways to talk about these feelings. One way is to use similes. A simile compares one thing to another using the words “like” or “as.” It helps describe how something looks, smells, feels, or even tastes in a more fun and clear way.
In this article, you will learn some similes that help describe things that are disgusting. These similes are not hard to understand. They are just short phrases that help people imagine something very nasty. You might hear them in stories or even say them yourself. Let’s find out how people talk about gross things using similes. It’s a good way to make writing and speaking more interesting.
Similes For Disgusting
1. As disgusting as rotten eggs
Meaning: Very smelly and gross
Give an Instance: The old sandwich in my locker smelled as disgusting as rotten eggs. / The trash can was as disgusting as rotten eggs.
Substitute Meaning: Super stinky / Smells awful
2. As disgusting as moldy cheese
Meaning: Looks or smells bad from being old
Give an Instance: The food in the back of the fridge looked as disgusting as moldy cheese. / His socks were as disgusting as moldy cheese.
Substitute Meaning: Old and gross / Smelly and nasty
3. As disgusting as a dirty diaper
Meaning: Really smelly and messy
Give an Instance: The smell in the room was as disgusting as a dirty diaper. / The bathroom trash was as disgusting as a dirty diaper.
Substitute Meaning: Very stinky / Nasty smell
4. As disgusting as sticky gum on a shoe
Meaning: Feels gross and messy
Give an Instance: Stepping in the mud felt as disgusting as sticky gum on a shoe. / The floor at the movie theater was as disgusting as sticky gum on a shoe.
Substitute Meaning: Yucky to touch / Unpleasant feeling
5. As disgusting as spoiled milk
Meaning: Has a sour, awful smell or taste
Give an Instance: The juice had gone bad and was as disgusting as spoiled milk. / His breath was as disgusting as spoiled milk.
Substitute Meaning: Sour and gross / Tastes or smells bad
6. As disgusting as smelly feet
Meaning: Has a strong bad smell
Give an Instance: After soccer, his shoes were as disgusting as smelly feet. / The car smelled as disgusting as smelly feet.
Substitute Meaning: Bad odor / Strong stink
7. As disgusting as a clogged sink
Meaning: Messy, wet, and full of gunk
Give an Instance: The science project turned out as disgusting as a clogged sink. / The drain was as disgusting as a clogged sink.
Substitute Meaning: Full of gunk / Wet and nasty
8. As disgusting as a hair in your food
Meaning: Surprising and gross at the same time
Give an Instance: Finding a bug in my cereal was as disgusting as a hair in your food. / The soup was as disgusting as a hair in your food.
Substitute Meaning: Makes you want to gag / Totally unappetizing
9. As disgusting as garbage juice
Meaning: A smelly, sticky mess
Give an Instance: The bag leaked something as disgusting as garbage juice. / The corner of the alley was as disgusting as garbage juice.
Substitute Meaning: Nasty liquid / Dirty and smelly
10. As disgusting as slimy leftovers
Meaning: Feels and looks nasty
Give an Instance: The container had food as disgusting as slimy leftovers. / His lunch from last week was as disgusting as slimy leftovers.
Substitute Meaning: Gooey and gross / Not fit to eat
11. As disgusting as a used tissue
Meaning: Dirty and wet in a gross way
Give an Instance: The floor was as disgusting as a used tissue. / He picked up something as disgusting as a used tissue.
Substitute Meaning: Wet and icky / Full of germs
12. As disgusting as a bug in your drink
Meaning: Something gross where it shouldn’t be
Give an Instance: The soup was as disgusting as a bug in your drink. / Her soda was as disgusting as a bug in your drink.
Substitute Meaning: Surprise and gross / Very nasty
13. As disgusting as muddy water
Meaning: Dirty and unclean
Give an Instance: The puddle was as disgusting as muddy water. / The dog’s bowl looked as disgusting as muddy water.
Substitute Meaning: Dirty liquid / Not safe to touch
14. As disgusting as wet dog smell
Meaning: Strong and unpleasant smell
Give an Instance: The basement smelled as disgusting as wet dog. / His coat was as disgusting as wet dog smell.
Substitute Meaning: Musty and gross / Really bad odor
15. As disgusting as a burp in your face
Meaning: Gross action right near you
Give an Instance: His prank was as disgusting as a burp in your face. / That loud belch was as disgusting as a burp in your face.
Substitute Meaning: Rude and yucky / Disgusting sound and smell
16. As disgusting as a slimy worm
Meaning: Wet and squishy in a gross way
Give an Instance: The food texture was as disgusting as a slimy worm. / Touching the sludge was as disgusting as a slimy worm.
Substitute Meaning: Squishy gross / Feels awful
17. As disgusting as old fish
Meaning: Very smelly and rotten
Give an Instance: That dish smelled as disgusting as old fish. / His breath was as disgusting as old fish.
Substitute Meaning: Fishy and rotten / Makes you gag
18. As disgusting as chewed-up gum
Meaning: Sticky and used up
Give an Instance: The desk had something as disgusting as chewed-up gum. / He stepped in gum that felt as disgusting as chewed-up gum.
Substitute Meaning: Already used / Unpleasant to see
19. As disgusting as a dirty bandage
Meaning: Something that looks unclean and unhealthy
Give an Instance: The old wrapper looked as disgusting as a dirty bandage. / His sock was as disgusting as a dirty bandage.
Substitute Meaning: Unsafe and dirty / Needs to be thrown away
20. As disgusting as green meat
Meaning: Spoiled and wrong
Give an Instance: The sandwich looked as disgusting as green meat. / That smell was as disgusting as green meat.
Substitute Meaning: Rotten / Not good anymore
21. As disgusting as a dead bug
Meaning: Something gross and lifeless
Give an Instance: I found something under the couch as disgusting as a dead bug. / The corner was as disgusting as a dead bug.
Substitute Meaning: Creepy and gross / Needs cleaning
22. As disgusting as a popped pimple
Meaning: Nasty and oozing
Give an Instance: The video was as disgusting as a popped pimple. / His story was as disgusting as a popped pimple.
Substitute Meaning: Very icky / Gory and gross
23. As disgusting as toilet water
Meaning: Dirty and not to be touched
Give an Instance: The spill looked as disgusting as toilet water. / He dropped his toy into something as disgusting as toilet water.
Substitute Meaning: Really nasty liquid / Germy and gross
24. As disgusting as barf
Meaning: Makes you want to gag
Give an Instance: The smell in the car was as disgusting as barf. / That picture looked as disgusting as barf.
Substitute Meaning: Super gross / Makes you sick
25. As disgusting as crusty socks
Meaning: Dirty and smelly from overuse
Give an Instance: He picked up socks as disgusting as crusty socks left under a bed. / The pile was as disgusting as crusty socks.
Substitute Meaning: Old and smelly / Unwashed and bad
26. As disgusting as a slimy bathroom floor
Meaning: Wet, dirty, and unpleasant
Give an Instance: The locker room was as disgusting as a slimy bathroom floor. / The stall looked as disgusting as a slimy bathroom floor.
Substitute Meaning: Needs cleaning / Too nasty to step on
27. As disgusting as licking a doorknob
Meaning: Super gross and full of germs
Give an Instance: The idea was as disgusting as licking a doorknob. / That dare sounded as disgusting as licking a doorknob.
Substitute Meaning: Unsafe and nasty / Yucky to even think about
28. As disgusting as an old sock in the rain
Meaning: Wet and smelly
Give an Instance: His backpack smelled as disgusting as an old sock in the rain. / The clothes left outside were as disgusting as an old sock in the rain.
Substitute Meaning: Damp and yucky / Not clean at all
29. As disgusting as dried spit
Meaning: Looks crusty and gross
Give an Instance: The desk was as disgusting as dried spit. / The paper was as disgusting as dried spit.
Substitute Meaning: Nasty mark / Dirty and dry
30. As disgusting as a pile of old food
Meaning: Smelly and rotting
Give an Instance: The trash was as disgusting as a pile of old food. / The lunch tray looked as disgusting as a pile of old food.
Substitute Meaning: Spoiled food / Rotten leftovers
31. As disgusting as bathroom stall graffiti
Meaning: Dirty and offensive
Give an Instance: The wall was as disgusting as bathroom stall graffiti. / The back of the notebook was as disgusting as bathroom stall graffiti.
Substitute Meaning: Messy and rude / Needs to be cleaned
32. As disgusting as mushy cereal
Meaning: Feels and looks unappetizing
Give an Instance: Her snack was as disgusting as mushy cereal left too long. / The bowl was as disgusting as mushy cereal.
Substitute Meaning: Too soft and yucky / Not fresh
33. As disgusting as a furball
Meaning: Hairy and yucky
Give an Instance: The rug was as disgusting as a furball from a cat. / His sleeve had something as disgusting as a furball.
Substitute Meaning: Fuzzy and nasty / Unwanted hairball
34. As disgusting as cough syrup spit
Meaning: Bad taste and yucky sound
Give an Instance: The sink had something as disgusting as cough syrup spit. / The noise was as disgusting as cough syrup spit.
Substitute Meaning: Bad aftertaste / Sticky and gross
35. As disgusting as food stuck to a plate
Meaning: Old, hard, and stuck-on grossness
Give an Instance: The plate was as disgusting as food stuck for days. / The sink had dishes as disgusting as food stuck to a plate.
Substitute Meaning: Needs soaking / Crusty and old
36. As disgusting as soggy bread
Meaning: Wet and soft in a gross way
Give an Instance: The sandwich in my lunchbox was as disgusting as soggy bread. / The snack left out in the rain was as disgusting as soggy bread.
Substitute Meaning: Wet and mushy / Not fresh at all
37. As disgusting as a dirty fingernail
Meaning: Full of dirt and looks gross
Give an Instance: His nail looked as disgusting as a dirty fingernail after digging in the dirt. / That close-up was as disgusting as a dirty fingernail.
Substitute Meaning: Needs cleaning / Full of grime
38. As disgusting as a fly on food
Meaning: Something unwanted touching your meal
Give an Instance: The picnic was ruined by something as disgusting as a fly on food. / Her burger was as disgusting as a fly on food.
Substitute Meaning: Gross and annoying / Not clean
39. As disgusting as gunk in your braces
Meaning: Food bits stuck and nasty
Give an Instance: After lunch, his smile was as disgusting as gunk in your braces. / That mirror view was as disgusting as gunk in your braces.
Substitute Meaning: Sticky and gross / Needs a good rinse
40. As disgusting as stepping in dog poop
Meaning: A yucky surprise
Give an Instance: My walk was ruined—it was as disgusting as stepping in dog poop. / Her shoes smelled as disgusting as stepping in dog poop.
Substitute Meaning: Smelly and sticky / Gross underfoot
41. As disgusting as an old sponge
Meaning: Looks and smells dirty
Give an Instance: The kitchen sponge was as disgusting as an old sponge left in the sink. / That scrubber felt as disgusting as an old sponge.
Substitute Meaning: Germy and worn out / Needs to be thrown away
42. As disgusting as food between teeth
Meaning: Something embarrassing and gross
Give an Instance: His grin was as disgusting as food between teeth. / That photo was as disgusting as food between teeth.
Substitute Meaning: Needs flossing / Not clean looking
43. As disgusting as a scab being picked
Meaning: Nasty to look at or think about
Give an Instance: The video was as disgusting as a scab being picked. / The story was as disgusting as a scab being picked.
Substitute Meaning: Makes your skin crawl / Just gross
44. As disgusting as spit on the ground
Meaning: Something rude and dirty
Give an Instance: The sidewalk was as disgusting as spit on the ground. / That corner of the gym was as disgusting as spit on the ground.
Substitute Meaning: Unclean and rude / Yucky to step near
45. As disgusting as used gum under a desk
Meaning: Sticky and old in a bad way
Give an Instance: He found something under the desk as disgusting as used gum. / That place was as disgusting as used gum under a desk.
Substitute Meaning: Already chewed / Don’t touch
Find the “Similes for Disgusting”
Reading Passage
It was the day of the big class picnic, and everyone was excited. But when the kids got to the park, things started going wrong. Mia opened the cooler and gasped. The sandwiches were as disgusting as soggy bread. Someone had packed them the night before and forgot the ice packs.
Jake tried to sit on the bench, but it was sticky and as disgusting as gum under a desk. He made a face and backed away. Then Sarah stepped in something as disgusting as dog poop. She cried out and had to wash her shoes in the bathroom, which smelled as disgusting as toilet water.
Liam opened his juice and spit it out. “This tastes as disgusting as spoiled milk!” he shouted. Everyone checked their drinks after that.
Later, while playing soccer, Ava fell and touched the ground. “Gross! That mud is as disgusting as a slimy worm,” she said. The ball, covered in dirt, was as disgusting as a dirty bandage.
When they finally sat down for lunch, Tyler found a fly buzzing around the table. “Ugh, that’s as disgusting as a fly on food,” he muttered. By the time the teacher came to check on them, half the class had lost their appetite.
Even though the day had funny moments, no one would forget the smells, spills, and gross surprises.
Directions for Students
Read the story again. Underline or list all the similes that describe something disgusting.
Answer Key
- As disgusting as soggy bread
- As disgusting as gum under a desk
- As disgusting as dog poop
- As disgusting as toilet water
- As disgusting as spoiled milk
- As disgusting as a slimy worm
- As disgusting as a dirty bandage
- As disgusting as a fly on food
Conclusion
Similes help us describe things in ways that are easy to picture. When something is really gross or messy, we can use similes to show just how nasty it feels, smells, or looks.
By learning similes like “as disgusting as spoiled milk” or “as disgusting as gum under a desk,” we can speak and write with more color. These phrases help us explain things clearly and also make our stories more fun to read.
