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adj

squalid

SKWO-lihd

Squalid (adj) means Extremely dirty, neglected, and unpleasant, especially describing living conditions. Example: “The refugees were housed in squalid, overcrowded camps.”

adj
1
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."
2
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

Word forms

squalider comparative, squalids plural, squalidest superlative

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The refugees were housed in _____, overcrowded camps.

Etymology

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

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for squalid

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Frequently asked questions

What does “squalid” mean?

The word “squalid” means extremely dirty, neglected, and unpleasant, especially describing living conditions. In plain terms, filthy and neglected, or by extension, morally shabby and degrading.

How do you pronounce “squalid”?

“Squalid” is pronounced SKWO-lihd (/ˈskwɒlɪd/ in IPA).

How do you use “squalid” in a sentence?

Here is “squalid” used in a sentence: “The refugees were housed in squalid, overcrowded camps.”

What part of speech is “squalid”?

“Squalid” is an adjective.

Where does the word “squalid” come from?

The word “squalid” comes from Latin. From Latin squalidus, "rough" or "dirty," from squalere, "to be filthy.".

How many meanings does “squalid” have?

“Squalid” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extremely dirty, neglected, and unpleasant, especially describing living conditions.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial