Thesaurus results for SORDID

sordid

adjective

ˈsȯr-dəd

Definition of sordid

as in filthy

not clean he managed to rise above the sordid streets upon which he grew up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in vile

not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency a sordid affair involving bribery and corruption in high places

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective sordid differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of sordid are abject, ignoble, and mean. While all these words mean "being below the normal standards of human decency and dignity," sordid is stronger than all of these in stressing physical or spiritual degradation and abjectness.

a sordid story of murder and revenge

Where would abject be a reasonable alternative to sordid?

While in some cases nearly identical to sordid, abject may imply degradation, debasement, or servility.

abject poverty

When might ignoble be a better fit than sordid?

The synonyms ignoble and sordid are sometimes interchangeable, but ignoble suggests a loss or lack of some essential high quality of mind or spirit.

an ignoble scramble after material possessions

When can mean be used instead of sordid?

The words mean and sordid can be used in similar contexts, but mean suggests small-mindedness, ill temper, or cupidity.

mean and petty satire

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of sordid Writing a sordid prose poem was suddenly a fruitful endeavor. — Literary Hub, 13 July 2026 And all of American history, all of the best elements of American history, were made possible by the seemingly sordid act in 1850. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026 The show is set to be led by writer Drew Crevello, who brought the sordid WeWork backstory to life with the miniseries WeCrashed, starring Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway. — Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 22 June 2026 Singer Bradley Nowell drunk-steered his band through sordid anthems, crashing through references to classic ska and dancehall songs, shouting out Rudimentary Peni and Geto Boys, and re-setting the murder ballads and drug sprees of outlaw country in suburban California. — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sordid

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sordid

Adjective

People were filthy in so many ways, so Mike really wrote that in.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026
While sinks can become filthy from soap splatters and dirty hands, toilets need cleaning for very different reasons.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of filthy

Adjective

Choose from more than 20 colors, including dusty pink, fall-ready forest green, and classic cream.

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Aug. 2026
The arc could be, for instance, a chance alignment of unrelated stars, the product of gravitational lensing from a background galaxy, or a dusty region that happens to mimic a stream's shape.

— Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of dusty

Adjective

As Coca-Cola works to automate dirty soda and refreshers, CNBC's Amelia Lucas takes readers inside the secretive labs where the soda maker is planning its next wave of innovation.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026
When younger brother Naz arrives with an unexpected guest in tow, tensions simmer, eventually boiling over into violence as the family’s dirty secrets are revealed.

— Suzanne Van Atten, AJC.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of dirty

Adjective

The 2021 event was pushed to September over lingering Covid concerns, but then Hurricane Ida forced its cancellation when rains turned the Farm into a muddy mess.

— Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026
In 1801, on the nation’s 25th birthday, the nascent District of Columbia’s muddy streets were chockablock with horse racing and cockfighting, according to the White House Historical Association.

— Patrik Jonsson, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of muddy

Adjective

Minneola City Councilman David Yeager’s efforts to annex his new home into the city earlier this summer sparked a nasty debate on the council that led to two members being censured last week for incivility.

— James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Working with a nasty four-pitch mix, Bradley struck out six over four innings before achieving the feat in the fifth.

— Dan Hayes, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of nasty

Browse Nearby Words

sorcery

sordid

sordidness

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“Sordid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sordid. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of sordid

adjective

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