1
as in filthy
not clean
he managed to rise above the sordid streets upon which he grew up
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vile
not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency
a sordid affair involving bribery and corruption in high places
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sordid
The American people deserve real answers on this sordid saga.
—
Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
In fact, there is a long history of sordid attempts by authoritarian governments to suppress negative economic statistics.
—Tom Saler, jsonline.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Both have inspired a literature far out of proportion to the sordid events, perhaps because each holds a certain moral voltage: evidence that even the invulnerable can be undone, that anything can be fixed, and that anyone can be killed.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Sophie is eventually arrested for the crime, which is why the series spent so much time on her sordid past.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sordid
Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
In fact, there is a long history of sordid attempts by authoritarian governments to suppress negative economic statistics.
—Tom Saler, jsonline.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Both have inspired a literature far out of proportion to the sordid events, perhaps because each holds a certain moral voltage: evidence that even the invulnerable can be undone, that anything can be fixed, and that anyone can be killed.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Sophie is eventually arrested for the crime, which is why the series spent so much time on her sordid past.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sordid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sordid
Adjective
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Unitree claims that the G1 is made to handle difficult, filthy, and repetitive jobs in a variety of settings, including at homes, factories, and hospitals.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Josh O’Connor, at his filthy best, plays a disillusioned ’70s suburban dad married to Alana Haim and vaguely fathering a pair of pathologically chatty sons as the Vietnam War and its attendant protests color the world around them.—
Vulture Staff,
Vulture,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Continue reading … VACANT SEAT – City councilmember resigns after vile comment made to Trump supporter sparks backlash.—
,
FOXNews.com,
26 Sep. 2025
-
This vile attack was motivated by hatred for ICE.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Glitter’s dusty shadow, fading into the lower part of the brow bone, brought out the moody hue on the lips.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The men walked out of the pub and headed up the dusty road to the cowshed.—
Zuzana Říhová,
Literary Hub,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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For both areas, Painter hit the transfer portal and landed a dirty-work center in Cluff.—
CJ Moore,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
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Far from a knightly war, the German advance in 1941-1942 against France was a dirty one, with thieving of private property and menace against civilians.—
Christopher C. Gorham
September 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Social media videos from Globe show cars being carried off by fast-moving, muddy floodwaters, some crashing into poles while large propane tanks are seen strewn across the area.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Whether through canny critique or open wist, shows about making out-of-fashion things can offer us space to predict, resist, and elegize our way through a dark and muddy cultural moment.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Big, nasty and physical, Kalani Sitake’s bunch controls the ball on offense and gets it back quickly on defense.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
26 Sep. 2025
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Chad Powers’ nasty protagonist should give it license to be more cutting, rather than just unimaginatively crude, in its humor.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The land, unfenced, abuts a bald blackened hillside that must be public land.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Aug. 2025
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In its time open, fueled by fans of its blackened mahi and buttery lobster rolls, owner Mike Smith has expanded his footprint, moving into a larger stall in the popular food hall — which has allowed for a menu expansion, as well.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
Orlando Sentinel,
6 Dec. 2022
Adjective
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Unlike previous seasons, Dorothy never makes immoral choices.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
This is disgraceful and immoral.—
Armando Garcia,
ABC News,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sordid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sordid. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
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