General Use:
* The newspaper article detailed the sordid affair that led to the politician's downfall.
* The museum's collection included a shocking display of sordid artifacts from the city's dark past.
* The novel delves into the sordid underbelly of the city, exploring its darkest secrets.
Figurative Use:
* After years of working in the sordid world of finance, she longed for a simpler life.
* The detective's investigation uncovered a sordid web of lies and deceit.
* The politician's campaign was marred by sordid accusations of corruption.
Formal Use:
* The historian's research revealed the sordid truth behind the royal family's downfall.
* The lawyer presented compelling evidence of the defendant's sordid criminal history.
* The biographer sought to expose the sordid details of the famous author's private life.
Remember that "sordid" implies something morally reprehensible, shameful, or involving immorality and wickedness.