adj · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈsɔː.dɪd/
General-American:/ˈsɔɹdɪd/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)dɪd
homophone: sorted (in some varieties)
CMU ARPABET:S AO1 R D AH0 D
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The politician was involved in a sordid money laundering scheme.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Dirty or squalid.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
They rented a sordid apartment together.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: seedy
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Morally degrading.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: seamy
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Grasping; stingy; avaricious.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adj
Meaning 5
Of a dull colour.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biology, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adjective satellite
Meaning 6
meanly avaricious and mercenary
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
sordid avarice
sordid material interests
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adjective satellite
Meaning 7
foul and run-down and repulsive
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a flyblown bar on the edge of town
a squalid overcrowded apartment in the poorest part of town
squalid living conditions
sordid shantytowns
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: flyblown, squalid
Antonyms: none provided
8
adjective satellite
Meaning 8
unethical or dishonest
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
dirty police officers
a sordid political campaign
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: dirty
Antonyms: none provided
9
adjective satellite
Meaning 9
morally degraded- Seattle Weekly- James Joyce
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a seedy district
the seamy side of life
sleazy characters hanging around casinos
sleazy storefronts with...dirt on the walls
the sordid details of his orgies stank under his very nostrils
the squalid atmosphere of intrigue and betrayal
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: seamy, seedy, sleazy, squalid
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Latin sordēs Proto-Indo-European *-éh1ti Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éh1yeti Proto-Italic *-ēō Latin -eō Latin sordeō Proto-Indo-European *dheh1-der. Proto-Italic *-iðos Latin -idus Latin sordidusder. Middle English sordid ▲ Latin sordiduslbor. French sordideder. English sordid From Middle English sordide, from Latin sordidus. Alternatively from French sordide.
Across languages
Translations
84 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
гаден
(gaden)
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
Bulgarian:
подъл
(podǎl)
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
Chinese Mandarin:
卑鄙
(bēibǐ)
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
Chinese Mandarin:
下賤 /下贱
(xiàjiàn)
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
Czech:
nechutný
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
Czech:
hnusný
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
Czech:
odporný
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
Dutch:
verachtelijk
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
Esperanto:
sordida
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
Finnish:
mauton
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
Finnish:
tyylitön
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
French:
sordide
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
German:
widerwärtig
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
German:
verachtenswert
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
German:
niederträchtig
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
Macedonian:
га́ден
(gáden)
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
Macedonian:
по́дол
(pódol)
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
Māori:
tautau(w)hea
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
Māori:
whakatautau(w)hea
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
Thai:
ต่ําช้า
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
Thai:
เลวทราม
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
Ukrainian:
огидний
(ohydnyj)
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
Ukrainian:
мерзенний
(merzennyj)
— distasteful, ignoble, vile, or contemptible
Bulgarian:
мръсен
(mrǎsen)
— dirty or squalid
Catalan:
sòrdid
— dirty or squalid
Chinese Mandarin:
不潔 /不洁
(bùjié)
— dirty or squalid
Chinese Mandarin:
污穢 /汙穢 /污秽
(wūhuì)
— dirty or squalid
