1
: marked by baseness or grossness : vile
sordid motives
3
: meanly avaricious : covetous
4
: of a dull or muddy color
sordidly
adverb
sordidness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of sordid in a Sentence
And Vermes's story is also in part an international thriller, especially with the high-level goings-on around the Scrolls. The full sordid tale of spite, scholarly selfishness, and undisguised anti-Semitism, which kept access to the Dead Sea texts restricted for decades to a tiny cartel, unwinds in his pages.
—
Paula Fredriksen, New Republic, 15 Oct. 2001
Another reporter working to verify the book's charges ended up unmasking author James Hatfield's sordid past, revealing how little the publisher knew about its author …
—Jennifer Greenstein, Brill's Content, February 2000
In fact, audiences now have become so blasé about accounts of celebrities' sordid personal lives that some stars are turning potential publicity nightmares into confessional coups.
—Stephen Rebello, Vibe, May 1999
He shared the sordid details of his past.
he managed to rise above the sordid streets upon which he grew up
Paula Fredriksen, New Republic, 15 Oct. 2001
Another reporter working to verify the book's charges ended up unmasking author James Hatfield's sordid past, revealing how little the publisher knew about its author …
—Jennifer Greenstein, Brill's Content, February 2000
In fact, audiences now have become so blasé about accounts of celebrities' sordid personal lives that some stars are turning potential publicity nightmares into confessional coups.
—Stephen Rebello, Vibe, May 1999
He shared the sordid details of his past.
he managed to rise above the sordid streets upon which he grew up
Recent Examples on the Web
Yellowstone executive producer David Glasser did not respond to request for comment on the latest filing in the sordid Weinstein saga.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2025
The rumor mill also reports that Jamie Carter is a Lothario whose sordid reputation has kept him from being promoted.
—Sarah Wendell, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025
San Diego has a sordid history of underfunding its pension system.
—Chris Brewster, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025
Ignoring the content of the sordid posts — some of which topped 10 million views each — Portnoy instead took to X and Facebook with a message to Taylor Swift.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for sordid 
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Dominic Patten, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2025
The rumor mill also reports that Jamie Carter is a Lothario whose sordid reputation has kept him from being promoted.
—Sarah Wendell, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025
San Diego has a sordid history of underfunding its pension system.
—Chris Brewster, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025
Ignoring the content of the sordid posts — some of which topped 10 million views each — Portnoy instead took to X and Facebook with a message to Taylor Swift.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for sordid
Dictionary Entries Near sordid
Cite this Entry
“Sordid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sordid. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sordid
adjective
sor·did
ˈsȯrd-əd 
1
: very dirty : filthy
sordid surroundings
2
: vile sense 1a
a sordid life
3
: meanly greedy : covetous
sordidly
adverb
sordidness
noun
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