Definition of SORDID

Examples of sordid in a Sentence

And Vermes's story is also in part an international thriller, especially with the high-level goings-on around the Scrolls. The full sordid tale of spite, scholarly selfishness, and undisguised anti-Semitism, which kept access to the Dead Sea texts restricted for decades to a tiny cartel, unwinds in his pages. —Paula Fredriksen, New Republic, 15 Oct. 2001
Another reporter working to verify the book's charges ended up unmasking author James Hatfield's sordid past, revealing how little the publisher knew about its author … —Jennifer Greenstein, Brill's Content, February 2000
In fact, audiences now have become so blasé about accounts of celebrities' sordid personal lives that some stars are turning potential publicity nightmares into confessional coups. —Stephen Rebello, Vibe, May 1999
He shared the sordid details of his past.
he managed to rise above the sordid streets upon which he grew up

Recent Examples of sordid from the Web

The tabloids offer a sordid vision of society, where the mainstream image of celebrities elides their secretly miserable lives (whether because of addiction, aging, infidelity, or bankruptcy).

— jeet heer, New Republic, "Donald Trump and the Weaponization of Gossip", 3 July 2017
The effort pits those who see the symbols as tributes to Southern heritage against others who regard them as a glorification of a sordid history of racism.

— emanuella grinberg, CNN, "What can communities do with Confederate monuments? Here are 3 options", 30 June 2017
The NRA's history with blacks is sordid from the beginning.

— dahleen glanton, chicagotribune.com, "Gun lovers need to stand up for Philando Castile", 26 June 2017
But the sordid details of the Louisville scandal apparently made an impression on the N.C.A.A.’s infractions committee, which handed down Thursday’s sanctions.

— marc tracy, New York Times, "N.C.A.A. Places Louisville on Probation and Suspends Pitino", 15 June 2017
A Very Sordid Wedding,’ is the sequel to the smash cult film, ‘

— beth wood, sandiegouniontribune.com, "FilmOut festival has crowd-pleasing lineup", 7 June 2017
Only Bryan has the sordid details ... OK, Hernandez donated his long locks to charity.

— dan sweeney, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Scott and the Speaker strike a special session deal", 2 June 2017
And the shredder scene was a reminder of how his killing fits into a long, sordid history that is only set to continue.

— spencer kornhaber, The Atlantic, "House of Cards Season 5, Episode 10: The Live-Binge Review", 1 June 2017
The conflict was sordid at best, pitting the SF Weekly against its rival, the San Francisco Bay Guardian.

— erin blakemore, Longreads, "Between Life and Death, There’s San Francisco: A Reading List", 28 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sordid'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of sordid

Latin sordidus, from sordes dirt — more at swart

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First Known Use: 1606

See Words from the same year

sordid Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of sordid

mean, ignoble, abject, sordid mean being below the normal standards of human decency and dignity. mean suggests small-mindedness, ill temper, or cupidity. mean and petty satire ignoble suggests a loss or lack of some essential high quality of mind or spirit. an ignoble scramble after material possessions abject may imply degradation, debasement, or servility. abject poverty sordid is stronger than all of these in stressing physical or spiritual degradation and abjectness. a sordid story of murder and revenge

sordid