squalid

adjective

squal·​id ˈskwä-ləd 

1

: marked by filthiness and degradation from neglect or poverty

2

: sordid

squalidly adverb

squalidness noun

Choose the Right Synonym for squalid

dirty, filthy, foul, nasty, squalid mean conspicuously unclean or impure.

dirty emphasizes the presence of dirt more than an emotional reaction to it.

a dirty littered street

filthy carries a strong suggestion of offensiveness and typically of gradually accumulated dirt that begrimes and besmears.

a stained greasy floor, utterly filthy

foul implies extreme offensiveness and an accumulation of what is rotten or stinking.

a foul-smelling open sewer

nasty applies to what is actually foul or is repugnant to one expecting freshness, cleanliness, or sweetness.

it's a nasty job to clean up after a sick cat

In practice, nasty is often weakened to the point of being no more than a synonym of unpleasant or disagreeable.

had a nasty fall

his answer gave her a nasty shock

squalid adds to the idea of dirtiness and filth that of slovenly neglect.

squalid slums

All these terms are also applicable to moral uncleanness or baseness or obscenity.

dirty then stresses meanness or despicableness

don't ask me to do your dirty work

, while filthy and foul describe disgusting obscenity or loathsome behavior

filthy street language

a foul story of lust and greed

, and nasty implies a peculiarly offensive unpleasantness.

a stand-up comedian known for nasty humor

Distinctively, squalid implies sordidness as well as baseness and dirtiness.

engaged in a series of squalid affairs

Examples of squalid in a Sentence

The family lived in squalid conditions.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Trump administration forced asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while awaiting hearings, leading to the development of squalid refugee camps along the border. —Maggie Astor, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2024

Similarly, there are laws to address squalid housing conditions. —Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial, The Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2024

The mistreatment and squalid conditions are the hallmarks of human trafficking, said Craig Williams, the chief agent of the marijuana and human trafficking sections of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. —Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, 17 July 2024

The newspaper found squalid conditions in the foundation’s buildings, residents under threat of eviction, roach and bedbug infestations and high rates of code enforcement and public health complaints. —Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial, The Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin squalidus rough, dirty, from squalēre to be covered with scales or dirt, from squalus dirty; perhaps akin to Latin squama scale

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

squalid

adjective

squal·​id ˈskwäl-əd 

1

: filthy or degraded as a result of neglect or the lack of money

2

: vile sense 1a

squalidly adverb

squalidness noun