1
as in filthy
severely lacking in cleanliness
The squalid boarding house was overrun with rats.
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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
There was no sign of such optimism in Gaza, where Palestinians who have spent months or even years in squalid displacement camps or the rubble of their homes hold out little hope for change.
—
Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Approximately 80 percent of all structures have been badly damaged or destroyed, and Gazans have nowhere to live except in squalid tents or the ruins of former homes.
—Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Destitute and determined not to become collateral damage, Rae disguises herself as a man and becomes employed at a squalid turpentine camp in Georgia named Swallow Hill.
—Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
The union accused the company of human trafficking via social media; charging workers to live in squalid conditions; threatening and intimidating workers and their families; operating with dangerously high production line speeds; and withholding mail from workers.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for squalid
Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Approximately 80 percent of all structures have been badly damaged or destroyed, and Gazans have nowhere to live except in squalid tents or the ruins of former homes.
—Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Destitute and determined not to become collateral damage, Rae disguises herself as a man and becomes employed at a squalid turpentine camp in Georgia named Swallow Hill.
—Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
The union accused the company of human trafficking via social media; charging workers to live in squalid conditions; threatening and intimidating workers and their families; operating with dangerously high production line speeds; and withholding mail from workers.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for squalid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squalid
Adjective
-
Her jeans are filthy; her blonde hair hangs in loose, greasy strings; bruises speckle her thin arms, and there’s a patch of blood above her right eye.—
Outside,
Outside,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Allegations of betting on suicide Like other detainees, Ramsingh said that between cleanings, the rooms, restrooms and showers were often filthy and infested with insects.—
Morgan Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Aerion was absolutely vile to him.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
23 Feb. 2026
-
That’s why every encounter with a non-vile mezcal should be celebrated, and the Desolas Mezcal Reposado is decidedly not vile.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
If frozen molecules can survive within these dusty structures, they may later be released into the interstellar medium as the nebula disperses, contributing complex material to future generations of stars and planetary systems.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
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The Sombrero Galaxy was imaged to magnificent effect by the Hubble Space Telescope — most recently to mark its 35th anniversary in space — which revealed its sweeping disk-like structure and pronounced dusty lanes shining beneath its glowing galactic core.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Granted, those three performances were pitiful.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Gallup reached only 50,000 people, a pitiful fraction of The Literary Digest’s awe-inspiring mailbag.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
True to its name, the Butter Melt Bronzer glides on like butter and melts seamlessly into skin, delivering a silky-smooth finish that never veers cakey, muddy, or heavy on dry skin.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
11 Mar. 2026
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During a stop on our paddle, checking out a muddy riverbank that was exposed by the drawdown, Andersen pointed out a sapling of hope.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
For a man whose alleged bone spurs kept him out of the Vietnam draft to muse about receiving an award reserved for the bravest of the brave of the American armed forces is contemptible.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
26 Feb. 2026
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Your death was preventable, unjust, tragic, and contemptible; utterly contemptible.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Step into Lucy Score’s romance universe Score is goofy and humble, ready with a dirty or self-deprecating joke.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
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The Twizzlers brand has introduced a new flavor of its fan-favorite Twizzlers straws that have been inspired by the dirty soda craze.—
Molly Burford,
Southern Living,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
On the phone, Miranda admits she’s known for a week, but agrees that what Shinia did was disgusting.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The litter box was still disgusting.—
Jennifer Wolfgram,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squalid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squalid. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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