cesspool

noun

cess·​pool ˈses-ˌpül 

1

: an underground reservoir for liquid waste (such as household sewage)

2

: a filthy, evil, or corrupt place or state

a cesspool of corruption

Synonyms

• Augean stable
• Gomorrah
• sink

Examples of cesspool in a Sentence

The region had become a cesspool of pollution.

over the decades the once-respectable neighborhood had become an urban cesspool

Recent Examples on the Web

Let’s state the fact not often discussed: Facebook is a cesspool of misinformation, child trafficking, and violent crime. —Charlie Fink, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025

Facebook started out as a campus directory for college students and then evolved into a cesspool of misinformation that also sells VR headsets. —Adam Clark Estes, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

At least these are at least attempting some kind of even-handed moderation, unlike the platform formerly known as Twitter, which has become the cesspool of X under Elon Musk’s ownership. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 9 Dec. 2024

Maybe the judge presiding will have the courage and intellect to break up this cesspool of crime. —Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

perhaps by folk etymology from Middle English suspiral vent, tap on a main pipe, settling pool, from Anglo-French suspirale vent, from suspirer to sigh, exhale, from Latin suspirare, literally, to draw a long breath — more at suspire

First Known Use

1783, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

cesspool

noun

cess·​pool ˈses-ˌpül 

: an underground pit or tank for liquid waste (as household sewage)