Definitions

squalid

[skwol-id, skwaw-lid] / ˈskwɒl ɪd, ˈskwɔ lɪd /

ADJECTIVE

poor, run-down

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dingy fetid filthy grimy muddy musty ramshackle seedy shabby sordid wretched

WEAK

abominable base broken-down decayed despicable dirty disgusting disheveled foul gruesome horrible horrid ignoble impure low mean miry moldy nasty odorous offensive poverty-stricken reeking repellent repulsive scurvy shoddy sloppy slovenly soiled ugly unclean unkempt vile

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bright clean clear good honorable nice pure sterile

WEAK

kept-up rich

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.

When the BBC visited the London properties with the Met police, officers said squalid conditions were the norm when it comes to cuckooed premises.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

Pope Leo XIV will visit a prison known for its squalid conditions in Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday, the second-to-last day of a marathon African tour on which he has spoken out forcefully on world issues.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

The place was a sty to begin with and only becomes more squalid after Mick, Keith and Brian move in.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Cities are squalid crime hives that need to be tamed or abandoned in the Sheridanverse, whereas small towns and Western vistas are quaint canvases fertile with possibility.

From Salon • Mar. 23, 2026

I had found the boy in squalid conditions, wasting away in an orphanage.

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

Vocabulary lists containing squalid

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