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Glite Dictionary
despicableness

despicableness

1 8.2
Being so bad or shameful that people strongly dislike it
  • noun
  • /dɪˈspɪkəblnəs/
translation icon : despreciabilidad
  • They could not overlook the sheer despicableness of the crime.

Examples

  • His actions showed a complete despicableness that shocked everyone.

  • The despicableness of his actions shocked even his oldest friends.

  • Her novel explores the despicableness lurking beneath a seemingly perfect community.

  • The despicableness of the crime left the community in disbelief.

  • His despicableness was evident when he betrayed his closest friends for personal gain.

  • The politician's despicableness shocked the public after his scandal was revealed.

  • Many criticized the despicableness of her actions, believing that she should have acted more ethically.

Synonyms

depravity
vsdespicableness
  • Formal
25 8.8

A state of very bad moral behavior

focuses on being seen with contempt rather than describing internal moral decay
vileness
vsdespicableness
2 8.0

Very bad and morally wrong behavior

implies being worthy of contempt without stressing extreme or shocking wickedness
baseness
vsdespicableness
  • Formal
1 8.1

Low moral quality that shows shameful behavior

suggests being worthy of contempt rather than only low moral status
sordidness
vsdespicableness
1 8.8

A state of being dirty and morally bad

focuses on moral contempt rather than physical dirt or squalor
loathsomeness
vsdespicableness
1 9.1

A strong feeling that something is very unpleasant or disgusting

is more about moral condemnation or scorn than sensory disgust
unsavoriness
vsdespicableness
  • US
1 9.3

A behavior that people find morally wrong or offensive

is stronger, implying active contempt instead of mere unpleasantness
despicability
vsdespicableness
8.9

A very bad moral quality that makes people feel disgust or anger

has identical meaning but uses a different word formation suffix
contemptibility
vsdespicableness
  • Offensive
9.8

Being so bad that people feel strong dislike and disrespect

focuses more on moral scorn and active dislike than general worthlessness
odiousness
vsdespicableness
  • Formal
9.0

A quality of being very unpleasant and causing strong dislike

is more about deserving contempt or scorn than mere physical repulsion
dishonorableness
vsdespicableness
  • US
9.3

A quality of not being worthy of respect

carries stronger public contempt and scorn beyond mere lack of respect
disgracefulness
vsdespicableness
7.8

The state of deserving public shame because of wrong actions

refers to general contempt rather than being specifically publicly disgraced
objectionableness
vsdespicableness
9.6

A state that makes people feel offended or dislike something

carries stronger moral condemnation rather than simple offense or dislike
distastefulness
vsdespicableness
6.1

Being unpleasant or offensive and making people feel dislike

implies deeper contempt and moral judgment than simple mild offense

Antonyms

respectability
19 4.6

Being seen by other people as proper and having a good name

honorableness
  • US
7.4

A quality of being honest and fair that earns respect

How Despicable

villainy
16 8.1
despicableness
1 8.2
immorality
23 6.3
wrongdoing
117 3.7
fault
∞ 1.8

Surface Forms

despicableness singular
despicablenesses plural

Morphology

despicableness = despicable (transparent) = despic + able + ness

Formed by the adjective 'despicable' plus the noun-forming suffix '-ness'; meaning is directly the quality of being despicable.

Etymology

Despicableness comes from parts de- 'down' and spec 'to look', the same root you see in inspect and respect. So it literally meant 'to look down on someone', which is why despicableness is the quality of being deserving of contempt.