Synonyms of squalid

squalid

adjective

1

as in filthy

severely lacking in cleanliness

The squalid boarding house was overrun with rats.

Related Words

• filthy
• dusty
• muddy
• dirty
• greasy
• black
• shabby
• insanitary
• unsanitary
• messy
• nasty
• sordid
• dingy
• grimy
• sleazy
• raunchy
• unwashed
• stained
• polluted
• scuzzy
• littered
• grubby
• blackened
• skanky
• soiled
• uncleaned
• unclean
• mucky
• unsterile
• grotty
• begrimed
• grungy
• bedraggled
• sloppy
• unsterilized
• smutty
• smudged
• foul
• uncleanly
• contaminated
• draggled
• sullied
• cruddy
• untidy
• impure
• befouled
• slovenly
• unkempt
• tainted
• besmirched
• gunky
• sooty
• bemired
• defiled
• germy
• messed
• fuliginous
• collied

Dissimilar Words

• clean
• immaculate
• spotless
• unsullied
• unsoiled
• spick-and-span
• unstained
• stainless
• neat
• tidy
• ultraclean
• cleaned
• cleanly
• spic-and-span
• perfect
• cleansed
• groomed
• bleached
• untouched
• bright
• shiny
• purified
• sparkling
• whitened
• wholesome
• flawless
• unpolluted
• unspotted
• unblemished
• untainted
• virgin
• undefiled
• taintless

2

as in vile

not moral or honest

The whole squalid affair will rightly end the politician's public career.

Related Words

• vile
• pitiful
• contemptible
• disgusting
• hateful
• wretched
• dirty
• nasty
• lame
• sordid
• shabby
• ignoble
• detestable
• deplorable
• dishonorable
• grubby
• pitiable
• execrable
• low-down
• cheap
• loathsome
• despicable
• revolting
• base
• sorry
• abominable
• odious
• scabby
• sneaking
• shameful
• low
• ratty
• abhorrent
• lousy
• paltry
• scummy
• disgraceful
• repulsive
• repugnant
• scurvy
• discreditable
• disreputable
• cruddy
• mean
• condemnable
• ignominious
• reptilian
• reprehensible
• unprincipled
• unscrupulous
• revulsive
• unethical
• censurable
• reproachable
• blamable

Dissimilar Words

• noble
• honorable
• honest
• scrupulous
• upright
• principled
• reputable
• moral
• virtuous
• redoubtable
• good
• ethical
• righteous
• right
• high-minded
• right-minded
• admirable
• laudable
• praiseworthy
• meritorious
• creditable
• commendable

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective squalid differ from other similar words?

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.

squalid slums

engaged in a series of squalid affairs

In what contexts can dirty take the place of squalid?

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.

a dirty littered street

don't ask me to do your dirty work

When could filthy be used to replace squalid?

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.

a stained greasy floor, utterly filthy

filthy street language

When can foul be used instead of squalid?

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.

a foul-smelling open sewer

a foul story of lust and greed

How does the word nasty relate to other synonyms for squalid?

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.

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

had a nasty fall

his answer gave her a nasty shock

a stand-up comedian known for nasty humor

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of squalid

The 3-week-old baby was the third to die from the cold in Gaza's tent camps in recent days, doctors said, deaths that underscore the squalid conditions, with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians crammed into often ramshackle tents after fleeing Israeli offensives. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 26 Dec. 2024

Migrants in Libya are routinely arbitrarily detained and placed in squalid detention centers where they are subjected to extortion, abuse, rape and killings. —Renata Brito, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025

The suit alleged that Evergreen failed to pay at least $3 million of vulnerable workers’ earned wages, illegally charged rent for squalid housing, and maintained a culture of fear and violence. —Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025

Harper also got stuck with a paralytic, leading her to collapse to the squalid floor, while the unseen killer scurried away. —Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 1 Feb. 2025