reprehensible

adjective

rep·​re·​hen·​si·​ble ˌre-pri-ˈhen(t)-sə-bəl How to pronounce reprehensible (audio)
: worthy of or deserving reprehension : culpable
reprehensibility noun
reprehensibleness noun
reprehensibly adverb

Did you know?

It may be easy to grasp that reprehensible is all about blame, but the word’s origins tell a grabbier story. The word comes from the Latin reprehendere (literally “to hold back”), a combination of re- and prehendere, meaning “to grasp.” Prehendere is at the root of other grasp-related words, among them apprehend, used when grabbing hold of bad guys, comprehend, used when it’s concepts that are grasped, and prehensile, used to describe anatomical features—for example, a monkey’s tail or an elephant’s trunk—that grasp especially by wrapping around. Grasp these words, and there’s nothing reprehensible about your grasp on this little corner of the English lexicon.

Examples of reprehensible in a Sentence

a reprehensible tyrant, who oppressed his country for decades, has finally been brought to justice your behavior towards the other team was truly reprehensible, so you're being suspended from the next three games
Recent Examples on the Web Here are some of the most reprehensible ones. ◾ Cutting in line: On smaller regional flights where there are often fewer gate agents, many passengers just go to the front of the line – whether they're allowed to or not. Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024 This is a preference which is neither unjustified nor reprehensible. Wanjiru Njoya, Orange County Register, 13 Feb. 2024 Worried Uncle Dear Worried: These parents’ choice to hook their daughter on vaping nicotine, allegedly in order to protect her from tar and other chemicals present in cigarettes is not only incomprehensible, but reprehensible. Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 11 Feb. 2024 Hateful speech may be reprehensible but hateful speech alone, without truly threatening language, is not a crime. Douglas S. Lavine, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2024 Ines, an avatar of naked capitalism who is also a loving daughter, is simultaneously reprehensible and winning. Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 27 Nov. 2023 While the company has withdrawn security services for the Daily Stormer and 8chan — both linked to real-world violence, including mass shootings and a deadly riot — Prince argues that revoking services based on reprehensible content sets a dangerous precedent. Nitasha Tiku, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2023 The indiscriminate killing of civilians and hostage-taking, including children and the elderly, is reprehensible. Malaika Jabali, Essence, 20 Oct. 2023 Morality may find such behavior equally reprehensible in private, but etiquette only objects to comments made in the presence of the patient. Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2023

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

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reprehensible was in the 14th century

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Dictionary Entries Near reprehensible

Cite this Entry

“Reprehensible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reprehensible. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

reprehensible

adjective
rep·​re·​hen·​si·​ble ˌrep-ri-ˈhen(t)-sə-bəl How to pronounce reprehensible (audio)
: worthy of or deserving blame or condemnation
reprehensible acts
reprehensibleness noun
reprehensibly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on reprehensible

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