cesspool

word

Definition

A cesspool is a large underground hole or tank for collecting sewage and wastewater. It can also mean a place that is dirty, unpleasant, or full of immoral things.

Usage & Nuances

'Cesspool' is formal for the literal meaning but used figuratively in journalism or criticism for places seen as morally corrupt, e.g., 'a cesspool of crime.' Common in critical language; don't use for people.

Example Sentences

That abandoned building has turned into a cesspool of crime.

natural

The internet can sometimes feel like a cesspool of negativity.

natural

For years, the river was a cesspool for all the city's waste.

natural

The cesspool needs to be cleaned regularly.

basic

They built a new cesspool behind the house.

basic

The smell from the cesspool was very strong.

basic