Synonyms for

Slum

Verb / slʌm / Another word for slum — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

a heavily populated urban area characterized by substandard housing and squalor

Synonyms & similar words

slumarea shantytown ghetto tenement hovel

Synonyms by register

Formal

hovel shantytown ghetto slumland

Informal

dump hovel dive shack

Literary

rookery warren hovel

Antonyms

mansion palace estate villa residence dwelling chateau

Common collocations

  • urban slum
  • slum clearance
  • slum dweller
  • slum conditions
  • slum area
  • inner-city slum
  • slum redevelopment

Word family

noun slum
verb slum
adjective slummy

Usage note

Often used to describe a densely populated, impoverished area characterized by substandard housing and poor living conditions. The term can carry a negative connotation and is sometimes considered derogatory.

Example sentences

  1. The slum was filled with dirty, broken-down houses.
  2. Many people in the slum lived in poverty.
  3. The government is trying to improve living conditions in the slum.
  4. The slum was a dangerous place to live.
  5. The slum was located on the outskirts of the city.

Quotes

  • "I was born in a slum, but the slum wasn't born in me." - Al Smith
  • "A comfortable house is a great source of happiness. It ranks immediately after health and a good conscience." - Sydney Smith
  • "The love of dirt is among the earliest of passions, as it is the latest." - Charles Dudley Warner

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