1
as in filthy
severely lacking in cleanliness
The squalid boarding house was overrun with rats.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vile
not moral or honest
The whole squalid affair will rightly end the politician's public career.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of squalid
Many January 6 defendants have protested inhumane prison conditions, including physical abuse, retaliation, and deprivation of food and heat, in a squalid D.C. jail from which several hundred were relocated after a U.S. Marshals Service investigation.
—
Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
Hundreds of thousands are crammed into squalid tent camps with dwindling food after Israel sealed off the territory from all imports more than a month ago.
—Isaac Scharf, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2025
After seeing an investigative report on the squalid conditions at the Willowbrook State School, Lennon and Ono decided to headline the One to One concerts: two benefit shows at Madison Square Garden to support individual (one-to-one) care for the children.
—Jon Pareles, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
The pictures depict a squalid living space, with junk strewn across furniture and floors throughout the home.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for squalid
Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
Hundreds of thousands are crammed into squalid tent camps with dwindling food after Israel sealed off the territory from all imports more than a month ago.
—Isaac Scharf, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2025
After seeing an investigative report on the squalid conditions at the Willowbrook State School, Lennon and Ono decided to headline the One to One concerts: two benefit shows at Madison Square Garden to support individual (one-to-one) care for the children.
—Jon Pareles, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
The pictures depict a squalid living space, with junk strewn across furniture and floors throughout the home.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for squalid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squalid
Adjective
-
At least 12 outside experts submitted testimony in what’s called the Dunsmore case, finding that San Diego jails are filthy and that workers regularly fail to follow best practices or department policies.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2025
-
So The Righteous Gemstones went with the sentimental ending — or at least what counts for a sentimental ending in a series so committed to the filthiest possible turns of phrase.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
5 May 2025
Adjective
-
Twain’s early writing and private letters and diaries contain vile language and sentiments.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
9 May 2025
-
The Imperial City Sewers you’re meant to traverse while learning the basics of the game look hideous and vile.—
Jamal Michel,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The days of my girlhood were dusty, dirty, sooty, and sweaty.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
13 May 2025
-
Everything from the mortar to the rope has been handmade on the dusty site.—
Rachel Howard,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2025
Adjective
-
But the rates were pitiful: $9.87 for a 13-mile trip, $19.97 for a 25-mile trip and so on.—
Eli Tan,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
-
Israel’s performance in climate mitigation, moving to renewable energies, is pitiful — just 12% when some countries are 70%.—
JTA Staff Report,
Sun Sentinel,
5 May 2025
Adjective
-
The three-year-old thoroughbred finished ahead of 18 other horses on a muddy track at Churchill Downs Racetrack on May 3 but will not be looking to repeat the feat at the Pimlico Race Course on Saturday.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
17 May 2025
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The 2025 Kentucky Derby endured showers and the horses ran on a muddy track.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
At the time, some of LeBron’s critics saw this as contemptible.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2025
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Civil-liberties organizations have defended neo-Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan on the basis that, unless there is free speech for the most contemptible members of society, there cannot be free speech for all.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
The New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Airplane tray tables, seatbelt buckles and armrests are known to be among the dirtiest surfaces onboard.—
Isabelle Rodney,
CNN Money,
20 May 2025
-
No filmmaker loves the dirty old town that is New York more than Spike Lee.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
20 May 2025
Adjective
-
Police call fake GoFundMe page 'disgusting' Concord Police Capt. Brian Goldman said police are investigating.—
Norman Miller,
USA Today,
7 May 2025
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But where was the anger from Erik Spoelstra in his post-game news conference about this disgusting performance?—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Squalid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squalid. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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