squalid

adjective

Definition of squalidnext
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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Dissimilar Words

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of squalid Almost the entire population of Gaza, more than 2 million people, has been squeezed into vast, squalid tent cities dependent on international aid. — Melanie Lidman, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026 An animal rescue group in northwest Indiana is helping care for dozens of guinea pigs, many of which are pregnant, after they were rescued from what police said was a squalid home on Tuesday morning. — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 17 June 2026 Such, at least, is the vibe of our squalid semiquincentennial summer. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 Millions have paid heed, with hundreds of thousands seeking refuge in squalid tent camps. — ABC News, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for squalid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squalid
  1. filthy
  2. vile
  3. dusty
  4. pitiful
  5. muddy
  6. contemptible
  7. dirty
  8. disgusting
Adjective
  • Dozens of people had spent almost a year living outside, filthy and exhausted, and for what?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
  • From shabby apartments to art experiments to filthy needles—with echoes of Patti Smith and Rebecca Makkai—Adler conjures an era of sorrow borne by too many, too young.
    — Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 2026
Definition of filthy
Adjective
  • Here, though, the entire enterprise is vile, and futile, and irredeemable, made worse by the self-delusion of the people who pursue it.
    — Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 21 July 2026
  • Finally, if companies like Hilton are going to investigate and fire every employee who posts something vile online, the workforce could become noticeably thinner.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of vile
Adjective
  • The trend intelligence platform said mentions of dusty rose, ecru and gray denim are climbing among key influencers.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 29 July 2026
  • This soft brown lumbar pillow comes with a dusty teal border that makes the aster print pop.
    — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 July 2026
Definition of dusty
Adjective
  • Completing the hat trick in pitiful style, Taking on the World was shot on a shoestring budget, helmed by the man behind Highlander III, and forced to rely on stock footage of real-life footballers.
    — Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 26 June 2026
  • Given the national team’s pitiful demise at the Oval, with New Zealand completing victory on the fifth morning, Ben Stokes’ revival in absentia feels like the only consolation from a miserable week.
    — Hector Vickers, New York Times, 21 June 2026
Definition of pitiful
Adjective
  • Heavy rainfall continued to impact Lollapalooza on Saturday, as doors were delayed opening until 2pm, and guests were advised to wear waterproof shoes as Grant Park would be muddy.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The Athletic’s reporting and the ensuing federal investigation have clarified what initially looked like a muddy picture.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 28 July 2026
Definition of muddy
Adjective
  • The scandal rocked the Cry Babies, prompting some to give the singer a new nickname, Felony Martinez, while inciting the majority to pile in against Timothy and dismiss her story as contemptible lies.
    — Matt Thompson, SPIN, 13 July 2026
  • Most people in the anglosphere don’t follow this region, and those who do get their opinions from a small number of people with a contemptible worldview.
    — Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 8 Apr. 2026
Definition of contemptible
Adjective
  • Some of the booths included food businesses including bakeries and lemonade stands and a dirty soda booth.
    — David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Now condemned and boarded up, cordoned off by sagging tape, dirty roll-up door set to adorn the front pages of tomorrow’s papers.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of dirty
Adjective
  • The left's most hated author — JK Rowling — has dropped the hammer on the disgusting things that took place at the Indiana Fever-Seattle Storm game earlier this week.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026
  • Or when some man behaving like a degenerate gambler plods into Chelsea Gray’s DMs with a disgusting slur.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Definition of disgusting

Browse Nearby Words

squads
squalid
squalidness
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Cite this Entry

“Squalid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squalid. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on squalid

Nglish: Translation of squalid for Spanish Speakers

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