What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
grotty
Example
The hotel room was grotty and smelled of mold. [grotty: adjective]
Example
I don't want to go to that grotty bar again, it's too dingy. [grotty: adjective]
squalid
Example
The refugees were living in squalid conditions with no access to clean water or sanitation. [squalid: adjective]
Example
The prisoners were kept in squalid cells with no windows or ventilation. [squalid: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Grotty is more commonly used in everyday language than squalid. Grotty is versatile and can be used to describe a wide range of unpleasant situations, while squalid is more specific and often used to describe living conditions or environments.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between grotty and squalid?
Squalid is more formal and serious than grotty, which is more casual and colloquial. Squalid is often used in more formal contexts such as news reports, academic writing, or legal documents, while grotty is more commonly used in informal conversations or everyday language.
