squalid
adjective
Example Sentences
David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Sep. 2022 Low-income tenants at the property, which is next to the Congress Heights Metro station, had for years been living in squalid conditions, including persistent mold and pests that were never addressed. Teo Armus, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2022 Refugees crowded into squalid camps is not a new mental image. Ariel Cohen, Forbes, 14 Aug. 2022 Several of her family members are among the 900,000 Rohingya who have been living in squalid refugee camps in Bangladesh, where food insecurity and crime reportedly have surged since the start of the pandemic. Rebecca Tan, Washington Post, 22 July 2022 Tens of thousands have now been confined to squalid displacement camps for a decade. Reuters, CNN, 22 July 2022 Several of her family members are among the 900,000 Rohingya who have been living in squalid refugee camps in Bangladesh, where food insecurity and crime reportedly have surged since the start of the pandemic. Rebecca Tan, BostonGlobe.com, 22 July 2022 Hundreds of migrants have been sleeping outdoors in squalid conditions just outside Ter Apel because the asylum center there is too full to house them. Mike Corder, ajc, 26 Aug. 2022 These findings and others came from an extensive review of the events of Sept. 19, when about 15,000 mostly Haitian migrants had gathered in squalid conditions underneath a bridge in Del Rio after crossing into the country from Mexico. Eileen Sullivan, BostonGlobe.com, 9 July 2022 See More Word History
Latin squalidus rough, dirty, from squalēre to be covered with scales or dirt, from squalus dirty; perhaps akin to Latin squama scale
1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
squalid
adjective
squalid
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- filthy
- dusty
- muddy
- dirty
- greasy
- shabby
- insanitary
- black
- sordid
- unsanitary
- grimy
- messy
- dingy
- nasty
- sleazy
- scuzzy
- unwashed
- polluted
- raunchy
- grubby
- littered
- stained
- skanky
- grotty
- soiled
- blackened
- unclean
- mucky
- begrimed
- uncleaned
- bedraggled
- grungy
- sullied
- sloppy
- befouled
- unsterilized
- besmirched
- unsterile
- smutty
- untidy
- draggled
- uncleanly
- smudged
- foul
- contaminated
- cruddy
- unkempt
- slovenly
- impure
- tainted
- defiled
- sooty
- messed
- gunky
- bemired
- germy
- fuliginous
- collied
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- clean
- immaculate
- spotless
- unsullied
- unsoiled
- unstained
- tidy
- neat
- ultraclean
- stainless
- cleaned
- spick-and-span
- spic-and-span
- cleanly
- perfect
- untouched
- bright
- bleached
- cleansed
- shiny
- groomed
- sparkling
- unpolluted
- wholesome
- purified
- whitened
- flawless
- unspotted
- unblemished
- untainted
- undefiled
- virgin
- taintless
Synonyms & Similar Words
- vile
- pitiful
- contemptible
- disgusting
- wretched
- hateful
- nasty
- sordid
- dirty
- nasty
- shabby
- lame
- ignoble
- detestable
- deplorable
- grubby
- dishonorable
- sneaking
- pitiable
- loathsome
- execrable
- scummy
- despicable
- revolting
- abominable
- scabby
- odious
- base
- shameful
- cheap
- ratty
- detestable
- cruddy
- abhorrent
- lousy
- condemnable
- paltry
- sorry
- disgraceful
- repulsive
- execrable
- repugnant
- disreputable
- discreditable
- scurvy
- low-down
- low
- ignominious
- dishonorable
- mean
- revulsive
- reprehensible
- reptilian
- censurable
- unprincipled
- unscrupulous
- reproachable
- unethical
- blamable
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- noble
- honorable
- scrupulous
- honest
- upright
- virtuous
- moral
- good
- righteous
- reputable
- redoubtable
- high-minded
- ethical
- admirable
- right-minded
- principled
- right
- laudable
- praiseworthy
- meritorious
- creditable
- commendable
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of squalid are dirty, filthy, foul, and nasty. While all these words mean "conspicuously unclean or impure," squalid adds to the idea of dirtiness and filth that of slovenly neglect. Distinctively, its figurative use implies sordidness as well as baseness and dirtiness.
The words dirty and squalid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dirty emphasizes the presence of dirt more than an emotional reaction to it or, figuratively, stresses meanness or despicableness.
While the synonyms filthy and squalid are close in meaning, filthy carries a strong suggestion of offensiveness and typically of gradually accumulated dirt that begrimes and besmears. Figuratively, it can also describe disgusting obscenity.
In some situations, the words foul and squalid are roughly equivalent. However, foul implies extreme offensiveness and an accumulation of what is rotten or stinking; it can also describe, for example, loathsome behavior.
Nasty applies to what is actually foul or is repugnant to one expecting freshness, cleanliness, or sweetness; in practice, however, nasty is often weakened to the point of being no more than a synonym of unpleasant or disagreeable. When used figuratively, nasty implies a peculiarly offensive unpleasantness.