Some definitions of squalor and its adjectival form squalid:
squalor: the quality or state of being squalid
squalid: marked by filthiness and degradation from neglect or poverty
squalor: the condition or quality of being squalid; disgusting dirt and filth
squalid: dirty and repulsive, esp as a result of neglect or poverty
squalor: Squalidness; foulness; filthiness; squalidity.
squalid: Extremely dirty and unpleasant
squalor: the state of being extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially as a result of poverty or neglect
squalid: (of a place) extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially as a result of poverty or neglect
(Ok, now that y’all are suffering from the same word glare/semantic satiation as I am …)
If someone is described as living in squalor, does that automatically imply that they’re doing so because they’re too poor to do otherwise? I know that context can override the usual connotation of words, so for example if I’ve established that someone is a reclusive millionaire, the fact that she’s living in squalor would not necessarily be a contradiction. But if I encounter this phrase on its own, am I wrong to assume poverty?
Best Answer
Yes, you are wrong to assume poverty, but I suspect it's what many of us might do.