What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
seediness
Example
The hotel had a certain seediness to it, with its dim lighting and stained carpets. [seediness: noun]
Example
He had a reputation for being involved in some seedy business dealings. [seedy: adjective]
Example
The party had a seedy vibe, with people smoking and drinking excessively. [seedy: adjective]
squalor
Example
The family lived in squalor, with no running water or electricity. [squalor: noun]
Example
He grew up in squalor, with barely enough food to survive. [squalor: noun]
Example
The refugee camp was a place of squalor, with people living in makeshift tents and lacking basic necessities. [squalor: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Squalor is less commonly used than seediness in everyday language. Seediness is more versatile and can be employed in various contexts, while squalor is more specific and usually reserved for extreme cases of poverty and deprivation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between seediness and squalor?
Both seediness and squalor are informal words that are not typically used in formal contexts. However, squalor may be considered more serious and intense, and therefore less appropriate in casual conversation.