: the quality or state of being squalid
Examples of squalor in a Sentence
The family was living in squalor.
I was shocked by the squalor of their surroundings.
Recent Examples on the Web
Belinda Hernandez-Arriaga, the executive director of ALAS and a mental health provider, said the extent of squalor people were living in was often hidden from nonprofit staff, not to mention local officials.
—
Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
And Lena, a nonagenarian widow with no children who existed in squalor and paranoia, out of touch with relatives living close by.
—Dan Barry, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for squalor 
Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
And Lena, a nonagenarian widow with no children who existed in squalor and paranoia, out of touch with relatives living close by.
—Dan Barry, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for squalor
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'squalor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Squalor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squalor. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
squalor
noun
squa·lor
ˈskwäl-ər 
: filthy or degraded conditions resulting from neglect or lack of money
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