slummy

Shabby and neglected

Slummy describes something resembling or characteristic of a slum—run-down, overcrowded, or squalid: a slummy neighborhood, slummy conditions.

The word carries judgment about poverty and neglect, often from an outsider's perspective.

It can also describe behavior or style that's deliberately shabby or low-class: The apartment had a slummy charm.

dilapidated

run-down

Deteriorated from neglect

ramshackleBadly deteriorated from neglect
tumbledownRuined through neglect
crumblingBreaking down gradually

decrepit · shabby · decaying · deteriorating · derelict · condemned · blighted · eyesore · flophouse · tenement

squalid

filthy

Thoroughly unclean

grimyCoated in stubborn dirt
unsanitaryLacking proper cleanliness
foulOffensive or illegal

grungy · dingy · seedy · unkempt · soiled · moldy · overcrowded · cramped · fetid · sordid

impoverished

poor

Lacking sufficient resources

destituteUtterly without means
poverty-strickenExtremely poor condition
deprivedLacking necessities

underprivileged · disadvantaged · needy · struggling · low-income · hardship · indigent · penniless · hand-to-mouth · inner-city

gritty

urban

Pertaining to cities

streetsPublic urban ways
crimePunishable illegal act
gangsOrganized criminal groups

edgy · raw · noir · alleyways · concrete · tenements · subway · underbelly · survival · tough

Opposites

socioeconomic quality

Having abundant financial resources

upscale · upmarket · wealthy · posh · ritzy

physical condition/appearance

slummyimmaculate

Completely without blemish

pristine · well-maintained · well-kept · spotless · manicured

Phrases

slum lordOwner neglecting rental properties
slum landlord
slum itAccept lesser accommodations
slum dwellersResidents of impoverished neighborhoods
slum clearanceDemolition of substandard housing
urban slumsDeprived inner-city zones

Family

slum, slums, slumlord, slumming, slummier

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG