squalor
noun
squa·lor
| \ ˈskwä-lər also ˈskwā- or ˈskwȯ-
\
\
Definition of squalor
: 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
Floor-to-ceiling windows with high ceilings evoke a light and airy atmosphere—the opposite of the dark, cramped squalor of the old building. — Nneka M. Okona, Condé Nast Traveler, "Airports (and Terminals) You'll Actually Want to Spend Time in," 28 Aug. 2019 Buried and lost to time, this was the domain of some of Edinburgh’s poorest residents, destined to live at the bottom of the vertically-rising city squalor. — Meghan Miner Murray, National Geographic, "9 of Europe’s underground marvels," 2 Aug. 2019 Up at the front of the train, the wealthy dine on biennially farmed sushi and bliss out on hallucinogens; back in the tail section, though, people live in squalor. — Peter Rubin, WIRED, "Snowpiercer Trains an Eye on TV—and Its Genre DNA Runs Deep," 21 July 2019 Meanwhile, the locals were forced into the Soviet system that demanded pelts and offered squalor in return. — David James, Anchorage Daily News, "In the early 20th century, Arctic fox fur was all the rage. The impact in Alaska was immense.," 20 July 2019 Taking in the squalor, the stench of unwashed bodies, and the poor health and vacant eyes of the hundreds of children held there, the group members appeared stunned. — Ginger Thompson, ProPublica, "A Border Patrol Agent Reveals What It’s Really Like to Guard Migrant Children," 16 July 2019 The demands come after the Homeland Security Department’s inspector general documented widespread overcrowding and squalor at border facilities where migrants are detained, including crammed cells and a lack of showers and hot meals. — Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, "House panel prods migrant detention firms for info, suggests conflict by Trump's ex-chief of staff," 11 July 2019 His pictures of urban squalor can still make the viewer smile, and think. — A.v. | New York, The Economist, "Why William Hogarth’s polemics were so successful," 25 June 2019 In fact, Legasov would have lived in an entirely different kind of squalor than the fireman did. — Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, "What HBO’s “Chernobyl” Got Right, and What It Got Terribly Wrong," 4 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'squalor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for squalor
squalor
noun
English Language Learners Definition of squalor
: very bad and dirty conditions
See the full definition for squalor in the English Language Learners Dictionary
squalor
noun
squal·or
| \ ˈskwä-lər
\
\
Kids Definition of squalor
: the quality or state of being squalid
The children had to live in squalor.
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