sordid

Examples

• All

• Annabelle deserved so much better than that sordid little house in Kensington.

  Fiction book (1990)

• I don't want to bore you with all the sordid details of my life; it's not a happy story...

  Fiction book (1994)

• The story is a little sordid.

  Smoke Screen (2010)

• "I got to go," Joe said, not wanting to hear the sordid details.

  Fiction book (2000)

• You go back there tomorrow and tell him no more of his sordid tricks, understand?

  Fiction book (1998)

• However, when Iemon went to offer thanks, the doctor revealed his gift was part of a sordid scheme.

• How would you like me to explain your sordid history to your new-found friend?

  Alien³ (1992)

• And as if it weren't already sordid enough, it turns out she was married.

  Fiction book (1996)

• I thought we'd agreed you would stay out of this sordid little affair.

  Fiction book (1999)

• They revealed a lot about what Nixon knew and when he knew it, about all sorts of sordid and illegal and unethical foreign policy operations.

  Alene B. Duerk: The First Woman Admiral (2020)

Synonyms

D

dirty

vssordid

453 4.3

Dishonest or illegal, especially about money

is broader, covering both moral badness and unpleasant uncleanliness

W

wicked

vssordid

149 4.6

A person or action that is very bad and cruel

is broader, including dishonesty and unpleasant filthy aspects too

S

sleazy

vssordid

• Offensive

65 6.5

Dishonest and having a dirty, unpleasant appearance or atmosphere

is similar but focuses less on flashy or cheap appearance

D

depraved

vssordid

• Formal

48 7.8

Very bad and cruel in the way someone behaves

is less extreme, covering both moral and unpleasant dirty aspects

S

seedy

vssordid

• Informal

26 6.1

Looking dirty and run down and often linked to crime

is more about moral badness than just shabby or neglected look

S

seamy

vssordid

6 8.4

The bad hidden side of a place or person, often connected to crime

is more openly dirty or unpleasant rather than mainly hidden

P

putrid

vssordid

• Offensive

5 8.3

Having very bad character and doing dishonest things

is milder, covering dishonest acts and general unpleasantness

R

rotten to the core

vssordid

• Offensive

4 8.1

Completely dishonest and morally bad in every part

is less absolute, covering moral badness without total corruption

S

squalid

vssordid

2 8.0

Having very low moral standards

can also mean unpleasantness without stressing visible decay

F

flyblown

vssordid

• Archaic

9.5

Being dirty and not cared for

emphasizes moral wrongdoing rather than only poor condition

Antonyms

C

clean

∞ 1.0

Free from dirt or harmful things

V

virtuous

35 4.3

Being morally good and doing what is right

How Immoral

depraved

• Formal

48 7.8

sordid

46 7.5

shameful

89 4.7

seedy

• Informal

26 6.1

Surface Forms

Etymology