For a time, he was a squatter in the abandoned building down the street.
Source: tatoeba (8606216)
Squatter
/ˈskwɑ.təɹ/
Synonyms for "squatter" (53 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (11)
Noun(1 words)
adverse possessor
Strong matches (16)
Related words (26)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: adverse possessor, arriviste, colonial, colonist, colonizer.
- Sentence evidence is available for squatter, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "squatter".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "squatter"
Keep "squatter" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "squatter" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "squatter", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "squatter" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
8 entriesMore specific
4 entriesequitable possessorinformal settlerstatutory squatterurban squatter
Collocations
6 entriesinformal housing occupantland squattersquatter campsquatter rightssquatter settlementurban squatter
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
1 entriesTranslations
28 translations across 19 languages.
Bulgarian
1 entries- незаконно заселил се noun (one occupying a place without permission)
Catalan
2 entries- ocupa noun (one occupying a place without permission)
- okupa noun (one occupying a place without permission)
Dutch
3 entries- kraakster noun (one occupying a place without permission)
- kraker noun (one occupying a place without permission)
- occupant noun (one occupying a place without permission)
French
1 entries- squatter noun (one occupying a place without permission)
Galician
1 entries- okupa noun (one occupying a place without permission)
German
3 entries- Hausbesetzer noun (one occupying a place without permission)
- Landbesetzer noun (one occupying a place without permission)
- Mietnomade noun (one occupying a place without permission)
Greek
1 entries- καταληψίας noun (one occupying a place without permission)
Ido
1 entries- squatter noun (one occupying a place without permission)
Indonesian
1 entries- penghuni liar noun (one occupying a place without permission)
Italian
2 entries- abusivo noun (one occupying a place without permission)
- occupatore abusivo noun (one occupying a place without permission)
Latin
1 entries- agripeta noun (one occupying a place without permission)
Malay
1 entries- setinggan noun (one occupying a place without permission)
Māori
1 entries- kainoho kōkuhu noun (one occupying a place without permission)
Polish
2 entries- dziki lokator noun (one occupying a place without permission)
- squatter noun (one occupying a place without permission)
Portuguese
1 entries- okupa noun (one occupying a place without permission)
Russian
1 entries- скво́ттер noun (one occupying a place without permission)
Spanish
2 entries- okupa noun (one occupying a place without permission)
- paracaidista noun (one occupying a place without permission)
Swedish
2 entries- husockupant noun (one occupying a place without permission)
- ockupant noun (one occupying a place without permission)
Turkish
1 entries- toprak-konducu noun (one occupying a place without permission)
Sample sentences
11 total sentences available.
Tom is a squatter.
Source: tatoeba (11324360)
A squatter lived in the abandoned house.
Source: tatoeba (11793445)
“I don't mean all of your friends—only a small proportion—which, however, connects your circle with that deadly, idle, brainless bunch—the insolent chatterers at the opera,[…]the chlorotic squatters on huge yachts, the speed-mad fugitives from the furies of ennui, the neurotic victims of mental cirrhosis, the jewelled animals whose moral code is the code of the barnyard—!"
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 11 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "squatter"?
Closest matches include adverse possessor, arriviste, colonial, colonist, colonizer.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "squatter"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.