sordid

[sawr-did] / ˈsɔr dɪd /

ADJECTIVE

dirty, bad, low

Synonyms

STRONGEST

disreputable nasty shameful sleazy squalid vile

WEAK

abject avaricious base black calculated corrupt covetous debauched degenerate degraded despicable dowdy filthy foul grasping grubby ignoble impure low-down mean mercenary miserable miserly poor scurvy seedy self-seeking selfish servile shabby slovenly slummy small small-minded unclean uncleanly ungenerous venal vicious wretched

Antonyms

STRONGEST

clean decent good kind nice reputable respectable

WEAK

honorable wonderful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Long before his role in the Epstein case came to light, Brunel already had a sordid reputation in the fashion world.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

Meanwhile, the locals continued to pursue their delightfully sordid lifestyles with a lot more personal privacy than would seem likely in smalltown America.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026

The best evidence of that sordid policy comes from Kissinger’s own National Security Council files, including near-verbatim transcripts of his face-to-face negotiations with communist leaders.

From Salon • Nov. 1, 2025

That sordid history won’t necessarily make anyone feel better about the current state of affairs, nor should it.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 4, 2025

I’m getting an intuition about maybe-not-so-saintly Sarah’s sordid past.

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali

Vocabulary lists containing sordid

1984

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Grade 12, List 2

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Heart of Darkness

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