noun
squalor
SKWAH-ler/ˈskwɑːlər/
Extremely dirty and miserable living conditions.
Rotting food and filthy bedding reveal the squalor of this sleeping corner.
Etymology
Latin squalor meant roughness or dirtiness; in English, the word combines dirt with misery. It therefore describes wretched living conditions, rather than dirt alone.
In context
never mind the filth and squalor on our potholed streets.
More examples
- The tenants complained about the squalor caused by overflowing drains.
- Volunteers helped an elderly neighbor clear rubbish and escape squalor.
- Despite its elegant entrance, the hostel hid rooms of appalling squalor.
Forms
squalor
squalid adjective — filthy and miserable to live in