despicable

adjective

de·​spi·​ca·​ble di-ˈspi-kə-bəl How to pronounce despicable (audio) ˈde-(ˌ)spi- How to pronounce despicable (audio)
: deserving to be despised : so worthless or obnoxious as to rouse moral indignation
despicable behavior
despicableness noun
despicably
di-ˈspi-kə-blē How to pronounce despicable (audio)
ˈde-(ˌ)spi-
adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for despicable

contemptible, despicable, pitiable, sorry, scurvy mean arousing or deserving scorn.

contemptible may imply any quality provoking scorn or a low standing in any scale of values.

a contemptible liar

despicable may imply utter worthlessness and usually suggests arousing an attitude of moral indignation.

a despicable crime

pitiable applies to what inspires mixed contempt and pity.

a pitiable attempt at tragedy

sorry may stress pitiable inadequacy or may suggest wretchedness or sordidness.

this rattletrap is a sorry excuse for a car

scurvy adds to despicable an implication of arousing disgust.

a scurvy crew of hangers-on

Examples of despicable in a Sentence

She is a despicable traitor. even within the prison population, pedophiles are regarded as particularly despicable
Recent Examples on the Web Many may withhold their votes in November, anointing the despicable Trump. George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 And secondly, who, ultimately, was the most despicable man on the list? Radhika Seth, Vogue, 12 Jan. 2024 No wonder that many of the despicable people tearing down posters of Israeli and American citizens abducted by Hamas on October 7 are young women, many of whom seem immune to shame for their noxious behavior. Daniel Foster, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023 The bombings are despicable no matter the perpetrator. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 3 Jan. 2024 The two worked together at a telemarketing company, small cogs in a despicable grift, but the office itself is home to real camaraderie — and real chaos, thanks in part to pervasive drug use. Margaret Lyons, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2023 The State of Texas will provide all resources necessary to impose the full weight of law on this criminal for his despicable crimes. CBS News, 6 Dec. 2023 For the good of the Negro, for the good of this state, for the good of this country, do your part to rid us of these apprenticeships, to dismiss one of the last gasps of that despicable institution which has haunted this nation for centuries. Anna Deavere Smith, The Atlantic, 13 Nov. 2023 Green has written all three of Kenneth Branagh’s recent Hercule Poirot movies, and gets Branagh to play the season’s big bad, a despicable, indomitable arms dealer named Fowler. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'despicable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin despicabilis, from Latin despicari to despise

First Known Use

1553, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of despicable was in 1553

Dictionary Entries Near despicable

Cite this Entry

“Despicable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/despicable. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

despicable

adjective
de·​spi·​ca·​ble di-ˈspik-ə-bəl How to pronounce despicable (audio) ˈdes-(ˌ)pik- How to pronounce despicable (audio)
: deserving to be despised
a despicable traitor
despicableness noun
despicably adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on despicable

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