slum

This term carries a heavy social stigma, evoking images of systemic poverty, overcrowding, and urban decay. When used as a noun, it describes a physical location of extreme deprivation, often implying a lack of basic infrastructure and sanitation. As a verb, particularly in the phrase "slum it," the word takes on a more ironic or condescending tone. It suggests a temporary descent into lower-class living conditions, often by someone who possesses the means to avoid such circumstances, framing the experience as a novelty or a conscious choice rather than a necessity.