Skip to main content
despicable

despicable

95 5.7
Very bad in a way that makes people feel strong dislike and disgust
  • adjective
  • /dɪˈspɪkəbl/
  • Offensive
translation icon : despreciable
  • And I think, I think Andrew and his brother Tristan have been subjected to a despicable witch hunt, actually.
  • a despicable act
  • even more despicable
  • most despicable

I don't think we can rewire our deep preferences and what we find despicable or joyful.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • The past was despicable, and the present has parts of it that are still needing remedial work.

  • He was condemned for his despicable treatment of the animals.

  • No, because there are too many despicable humans in their team.

  • Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror.

  • I think more than unfair, I, I just it's despicable the way he portrayed his parents.

  • He's a despicable human being.

  • But this is exactly what makes him so unnatural and ultimately despicable, too.

    Academic text (1995)
  • And courts have long said that the very nature of conspiracy makes it exceptionally despicable.

    Academic text (2002)
  • This is one of the most despicable, ungrateful acts I've ever seen.

  • However, a protagonist who is despicable and lacks any redeeming features puts me off.

    Academic text (2009)

Synonyms

ugly
vsdespicable
268 4.9

Very bad or offensive in a moral way

is about being morally deserving of contempt rather than focusing on shock
vile
vsdespicable
157 5.0

Very bad and morally wrong

focuses on deserving contempt rather than only describing moral badness
hateful
vsdespicable
116 3.6

Making people feel strong dislike or anger

focuses on moral shame and desert of contempt rather than just emotional hate
filthy
vsdespicable
86 4.1

A person or action that is very bad and dishonest

is the broader term for moral reprehensibility without dirty imagery
reprehensible
vsdespicable
  • Formal
50 7.9

Morally wrong and deserving strong criticism

is about being morally deserving of contempt rather than only criticism
depraved
vsdespicable
  • Formal
48 7.8

Very bad and cruel in the way someone behaves

is the entry's general term for moral blame rather than deep corruption focus
slimy
vsdespicable
  • Offensive
47 6.5

A person who is dishonest and unpleasant, so others do not trust them

focuses on moral desert of contempt rather than implying sly dishonest traits
disgraceful
vsdespicable
46 3.0

Very bad or shocking behaviour that makes people lose respect

is judged as worthy of contempt for moral reasons rather than only disgrace
repugnant
vsdespicable
42 7.8

Very unpleasant and morally wrong to most people

expresses that a person or act deserves contempt rather than mere distaste
degenerate
vsdespicable
  • Offensive
35 8.0

Not following normal moral rules and behaving badly

labels actions as morally blameworthy and deserving contempt, not only decline
distasteful
vsdespicable
30 4.6

Something that makes people feel dislike or disgust

is stronger, marking moral reprehensibility and deserving contempt instead
unsavory
vsdespicable
  • US
29 7.2

Something people think is morally wrong or dishonest

is stronger, naming clear moral blame and deserving of contempt instead
abominable
vsdespicable
24 7.2

Very bad or morally wrong so people strongly dislike it

marks moral wrongness deserving contempt but not only intensity of offence
abhorrent
vsdespicable
23 7.7

Causing strong dislike or disgust because people see it as morally wrong

names being morally blameworthy and worthy of despising rather than just offensive
dishonorable
vsdespicable
  • US
23 6.0

Not honest or fair and causing shame

refers to being morally blameworthy and deserving contempt rather than mere shame
ungodly
vsdespicable
21 7.2

Morally wrong because it goes against religious rules

is the secular moral judgement of deserving contempt rather than religious focus
loathsome
vsdespicable
20 7.7

Causing strong disgust or hatred in people

is judged as morally reprehensible and deserving of contempt instead
odious
vsdespicable
  • Formal
20 8.2

Very unpleasant and likely to make people feel strong dislike

focuses on moral desert of contempt rather than only causing repulsion
unworthy
vsdespicable
  • Offensive
20 5.4

Deserves strong blame or dislike

is judged as morally blameworthy and deserving of contempt specifically
contemptible
vsdespicable
  • Offensive
15 7.4

Very bad and makes people feel angry or disgusted

is the same moral judgement but named by the entry's main term
wretched
vsdespicable
  • Offensive
15 7.1

Very bad in a moral way and deserving strong blame

is the base term for moral blame, not necessarily the extreme misery sense
damnable
vsdespicable
  • Formal
10 8.5

Something that people strongly blame or hate for being very bad

emphasises deserving to be despised morally rather than mere wrongdoing
disreputable
vsdespicable
9 7.1

Not trusted or respected because of bad behavior

focuses on being morally deserving of contempt rather than only bad reputation
detestable
vsdespicable
9 6.5

Very unpleasant and causing people to feel strong dislike or hate

is about being morally deserving of contempt rather than only offensive
scummy
vsdespicable
  • Offensive
6 8.0

Very dishonest or cruel in a way that makes people feel disgusted

is the standard, neutral word for moral reprehensibility used broadly
execrable
vsdespicable
  • Formal
4 9.5

Very bad and unpleasant, causing strong dislike

covers moral blame and desert of contempt, not merely public disapproval
condemnable
vsdespicable
1 7.5

Deserving strong criticism for being wrong

labels moral guilt deserving contempt rather than only formal punitive censure
discreditable
vsdespicable
1 7.6

Likely to harm someone's reputation by showing shameful behaviour

concerns moral blame that merits contempt rather than mere reputation damage
hateable
vsdespicable
1 5.6

Easy for people to dislike because it seems rude or cruel

is about deserving moral contempt rather than simply provoking emotional hate
scrofulous
vsdespicable
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Having a bad and dishonest character

is the common modern word for moral reprehensibility without literary flavour
loathly
vsdespicable
  • Archaic
9.9

Very unpleasant and likely to make people feel disgusted

describes being morally blameworthy and deserving contempt rather than only offensive
disgustful
vsdespicable
6.7

Causing a strong feeling of dislike or making people feel sick

is the moral assessment of deserving contempt, not merely physical revulsion
lowdown
vsdespicable
  • Offensive
7.4

Mean and unfair in a way that hurts others

focuses on moral desert and being worthy of contempt rather than mere meanness

Antonyms

87 3.3

Having good qualities that make people respect you

35 4.3

Being morally good and doing what is right

How Despicable

vile
157 5.0
despicable
  • Offensive
95 5.7
nasty
  • Offensive
457 1.8
bad
12 4.9
unpleasant
215 1.0

Surface Forms

despicable positive

Morphology

despicable = despise (transparent) = despic + able

The adjective is a regular formation meaning 'able to be despised' or 'deserving to be despised', directly derived from 'despise' + '-able', though the internal spelling 'despic-' differs from 'despise'.

Etymology

Despicable comes from the Latin parts de- ('down') and specere ('to look'), so it originally meant to 'look down' on someone. So a despicable person is someone you 'look down on' or strongly dislike, the same idea as in despise.