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cesspool

/ˌsɛsˈpul/
/ˈsɛspul/
IPA guide

Other forms: cesspools

Literally, a cesspool is place underground where sewage gathers, but figuratively, you might hear anything that's full of germs or just plain disgusting described as a cesspool. Either way, you'll want to steer clear.

Think of a cesspool as an underground swimming pool full of nastiness, which of course rhymes with cess. But the word cesspool isn't just used to describe a storage place underground where sewage is held temporarily. It's also a term you might use to negatively describe something that's swimming in germs or corruption. Stuck on a long flight between two people with a cold? That's a cesspool of germs right there for you.

Definitions of cesspool
  1. noun
    a covered cistern; waste water and sewage flow into it
    synonyms: cesspit, sink, sump
    see moresee less
    type of:
    cistern
    an artificial reservoir for storing liquids; especially an underground tank for storing rainwater
  2. noun
    a corrupt or disgusting place or state
    see moresee less
    type of:
    place, spot, topographic point
    a point located with respect to surface features of some region
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘cesspool'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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