adj

squalid

SKWO-lihd

adj

Extremely dirty, neglected, and unpleasant, especially describing living conditions.

"The refugees were housed in squalid, overcrowded camps."

"The apartment was left in a squalid state after months of neglect."

Morally low or degrading.

"The scandal exposed a squalid web of bribery and lies."

How to Use Squalid

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFilthy and neglected, or by extension, morally shabby and degrading.

Common pairings

squalid conditions squalid slum squalid affair

squalider comparative, squalids plural, squalidest superlative

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The refugees were housed in _____, overcrowded camps.

From Latin squalidus, "rough" or "dirty," from squalere, "to be filthy."

valid Walid Khalid invalid