squalor

noun

squa·​lor ˈskwä-lər How to pronounce squalor (audio)
 also  ˈskwā-,
 or  ˈskwȯ-
: the quality or state of being squalid

Examples of squalor in a Sentence

The family was living in squalor. I was shocked by the squalor of their surroundings.
Recent Examples on the Web Bailey looked out at the landscape again, thinking about El Naga’s description, the squalor of the NCI, the fractures between the United States and the Middle East. Sushrut Jangi, Foreign Affairs, 7 Dec. 2014 Seeing my friend so comfortable in comfort, my old guttersnipe buddy who’d once lived for years in actual squalor, felt odd. Lauren Groff, The Atlantic, 28 Sep. 2024 At one location, hundreds of workers were housed in what appeared to be shipping containers, according to a Malaysian government official, who in a media report described the squalor as a form of modern slavery. Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 25 Sep. 2024 Rob Reynolds, an Iraq war veteran who did not live in Veterans Row but became an advocate for those who did, testified to the squalor, despair and deaths there, as well as the neglect by VA staff who never came outside the fence to offer aid. Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for squalor 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'squalor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from squalēre

First Known Use

1621, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of squalor was in 1621

Dictionary Entries Near squalor

Cite this Entry

“Squalor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squalor. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

squalor

noun
squa·​lor ˈskwäl-ər How to pronounce squalor (audio)
: filthy or degraded conditions resulting from neglect or lack of money
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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