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
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
See All Example Sentences for squalid
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
See All Example Sentences for squalid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squalid
Adjective
-
Indeed, the trio looked filthy, and one even had a red, watery eye.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
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Sharp has long been one of New York’s filthiest comedians.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
Arriving in London, Jess has a chance encounter with Felix (Will Sharpe), a broke musician, in a particularly vile pub toilet.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
17 July 2025
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The tweets, a vile departure from Elmo’s often inspiring and motivational social media cadence, were sent on July 13 and promptly taken down.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
Silvery fabric curtained the frame around him, floating loosely in the cold, dusty air.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
28 July 2025
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On the palate, the wine is velvety and streamlined with notes of black cherry, dusty chocolate mocha and graphite, with a long elegant finish.—
Liz Thach,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
Adjective
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Once Bernstein landed on broadcast television, in the mid-fifties, such guides looked pitiful.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
20 July 2025
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The real version of Dave is equal parts pitiful and menacing, seductive and unable to fully pass himself as a normal person.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive sneak peek of The Challenge: Vets and New Threats premiere that reveals CT struggles pretty much immediately in the first daily challenge when the pairs have to climb up a muddy hill to collect balls over and over again.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
30 July 2025
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Participants should wear closed-toe shoes that can get muddy and wet.—
Joe Rassel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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The death of Pope Francis, sadly, has not escaped the attention of these truly contemptible criminals.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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At the time, some of LeBron’s critics saw this as contemptible.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Another is to use one of the brand's sprays and spritz the dirty surface, wipe it down, then rinse with water.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 July 2025
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That version of Boldy — the skilled scorer not afraid to go to the dirty areas — had superstar qualities and scored some big-time goals.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
Adjective
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That being cold is cool and being hot with a side of humidity is rather disgusting.—
Sherry Kuehl,
Kansas City Star,
16 July 2025
-
There is no way around it: Toilet brushes are disgusting.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
16 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Squalid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squalid. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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