From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsqualidsqual‧id /ˈskwɒlɪd $ ˈskwɑː-/ adjective 1 DIRTYvery dirty and unpleasant because of a lack of care or money → squalor How can anyone live in such squalid conditions? a tiny squalid apartment► see thesaurus at dirty2 BAD BEHAVIOUR OR ACTIONS especially British English immoral or dishonest squalid behaviour a squalid affair
Examples from the Corpus
squalid• He had explored areas which ranged from the untidy and uncared for to the downright squalid.• a squalid and corrupt political system• And the way of life this film holds up to be squalid and ruinous is the way of Woodstock.• The living conditions these immigrants endure are squalid, at best.• She particularly noted the squalid condition of many schools.• After the squalid conditions of the refugee camps even this place seems preferable.• He left and found a squalid flat in Brentford, which they shared with another couple and their children.• He nodded Chant on, and together they headed over the ill-lit and squalid ground.• Dalmer lived in a squalid little room above a shop.• In 1597 this priest with degrees in both divinity and law opened a school in the squalid part of Tiber.• More children still swarm in the slums and the squalid quaysides of nearby Talcahuano..• Her childhood was spent in the squalid slums east of the city.• squalid slums• That raffle was no more squalid than the raffle we all play every day.Origin squalid (1500-1600) Latin squalidus, from squalere “to be dirty”, from squalus “dirty” 