sordid

[ sawr-did ]

adjective

1. morally ignoble or base; vile:

   sordid methods.

   Synonyms: depraved, degraded

   Antonyms: honorable

2. meanly selfish, self-seeking, or mercenary.

   Synonyms: stingy, close, tight, avaricious

   Antonyms: generous

3. dirty or filthy.

   Synonyms: foul, unclean

   Antonyms: clean

4. squalid; wretchedly poor and run-down:

   sordid housing.

sordid

/ ˈsɔːdɪd /

adjective

1. dirty, foul, or squalid
2. degraded; vile; base

   a sordid affair

3. selfish and grasping

   sordid avarice

Derived Forms

• ˈsordidness, noun
• ˈsordidly, adverb

Other Words From

• sordid·ly adverb
• sordid·ness noun
• un·sordid adjective
• un·sordid·ly adverb
• un·sordid·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sordid¹

1590–1600; from Latin sordidus, equivalent to sord(ēs) “dirt” + -idus -id ⁴

Word History and Origins

Origin of sordid¹

C16: from Latin sordidus, from sordēre to be dirty

Synonym Study

See mean ².

Example Sentences

The actual deal breaker, though, may be his sordid personal life.

From Salon

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ children have issued a statement supporting their embattled father, saying that they “stand united” as the music mogul remains behind bars and faces a growing raft of sordid allegations.

From Los Angeles Times

The sordid revelations about the extent of the rot in Malayalam cinema have made headlines and the findings have been debated on primetime TV.

From BBC

Richard’s lawsuit also made references to sordid allegations of sex trafficking at Combs’ mansions, which appeared to align with some that likely led to bicoastal raids of Combs’ homes in March.

From Los Angeles Times

But the sordid case to emerge from the “Friends” star’s death shows there are many people in the chain of blame.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• disreputable
• nasty
• shameful
• sleazy
• squalid
• vile