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 Neat or squalid, these apartments reflect the compromised lives these men have made for themselves. —Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026 Police released chilling images on Facebook showing the squalid conditions the victim had been made to live in. —Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026 There are still plenty of squalid encampments to be videotaped and featured on ads attacking a potential presidential candidate named Newsom two years hence. —Dan Walters, Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2026 Forty dogs have been rescued after they were found living in squalid hoarding conditions in a La Mesa apartment earlier this week. —Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025 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
  • This neighborhood, peopled almost entirely by the people who claim to have been driven from Poland and Russia, is the eyesore of New York and perhaps the filthiest place on the western continent.
    — Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Rodents, roaches, flies and knives stored in filthy places were among the myriad violations on this week’s Sick and Shut Down List of South Florida restaurants that failed state inspection.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of filthy
Adjective
  • How heartbreaking, and how vile, that any adult claiming compassion would seek to imbue a child with that extreme allergy to their own self.
    — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
  • The Diary again casts its eye far and wide for news, any news, that might distract us all from the vile toxicity emanating from Washington—make that Davos.
    — Chop Choppish Shop, Air Mail, 24 Jan. 2026
Definition of vile
Adjective
  • This one, in a dusty olive green, has a high pile texture and subtle geometric design for the right amount of visual interest.
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Mattresses and questionably clean bedding were dredged up, dusty couches cleared of detritus.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of dusty
Adjective
  • Mercy came via a bye week, the pitiful Raiders and an inept Cowboys defense.
    — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
  • Writer-director Craig Brewer resists the temptation to make Mike and Claire in any way pitiful or worthy of derision.
    — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Definition of pitiful
Adjective
  • The walk to the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, which is hosting men’s and women’s competitions at the 2026 Olympic Games, is a muddy one.
    — Sean Gregory, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Once the ground is thawed enough to be worked with—but not oversaturated or muddy-feeling—use a rake or roller to try and even things back out.
    — Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 3 Feb. 2026
Definition of muddy
Adjective
  • Your death was preventable, unjust, tragic, and contemptible; utterly contemptible.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Reuniting with their Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid director George Roy Hill, Newman and Redford play con men out to ruin a contemptible gangster (Robert Shaw), devising an elaborate scam with plenty of twists, turns, contrivances, and double crosses.
    — Will Leitch, Vulture, 15 Nov. 2025
Definition of contemptible
Adjective
  • Yet, even as India remains wedded to the dirtiest fossil fuel, its coal consumption is roughly 40% of China’s at the same stage of development, Ember found.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Camperlab also experimented with bleaching, dirty tints and shades of pink.
    — Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of dirty
Adjective
  • The Epstein files reveal plenty of powerful people to have tolerated or participated in disgusting and shameful behavior.
    — Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Hearing disgusting lies spread about my brother is absolutely gut-wrenching, and my family is deeply grateful so many people have stood up and helped tell his truth.
    — Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 30 Jan. 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 15 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on squalid

Nglish: Translation of squalid for Spanish Speakers

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