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Definition of squalor

squalor

/ˈskwɑː.lɚ/
squa · lor
Adverb:squalidly
•
Adjective:squalid
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squalor Lexical Profile

squalor Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The state of being extremely dirty, unpleasant, and degraded, especially as a result of severe poverty or neglect.

Example

"Social reformers documented the extreme squalor of the overcrowded tenements during the late nineteenth century."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for squalor

• Nearby Words

squalidly
squall
squally
squalor
squander
squanderer
square

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the early 17th century from Latin squalor ('filthiness, roughness, neglect'), derived from the verb squalere ('to be rough, stiff, or caked with dirt'). In ancient Rome, the word also denoted the neglected, unwashed attire worn as an outward sign of public mourning.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Squalor. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/squalor
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