sordid
adj.describing something that is very dirty, unpleasant, or morally bad. You use this to talk about situations that are messy or involve dishonest behavior.
adj.characterised by extreme dirtiness, moral corruption, or a lack of refinement. Often used to describe environments or behaviors that are socially unacceptable or physically unclean.
“The detective found sordid evidence in the basement.”
“The investigation revealed a sordid history of corruption within the local government.”
“The novel explores the sordid underbelly of the city, where the pursuit of wealth often leads to the degradation of personal integrity and public health.”
From Middle English sordide, from Latin sordidus. Alternatively from French sordide.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.