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Glite Dictionary
reprehensibility

reprehensibility

9.1
Being wrong and deserving blame or criticism
  • noun
  • /ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnsəˌbɪlɪti/
  • Formal
translation icon : reprehensibilidad
  • Due process does not permit courts, in the calculation of punitive damages, to adjudicate the merits of other parties' hypothetical claims against a defendant under the guise of reprehensibility analysis.
  • moral reprehensibility

Examples

  • Others are "the degree of reprehensibility of the defendant's conduct" and the relationship of the punitive damage award to the criminal fines that could be imposed for similar conduct in criminal court.

    Academic text (1997)

  • As for the culpability (not to mention reprehensibility) of the principals who publicize information about subjects against their wishes, each will be determined according to differing contexts and criteria.

    Blog text (23)

  • The manager's decision was criticized for its clear reprehensibility in neglecting employee safety.

  • The report highlighted the social reprehensibility of the company's unethical advertising practices.

  • Many considered the politician's actions to demonstrate a notable reprehensibility that could not be ignored.

Synonyms

culpability
vsreprehensibility
20 8.3

Being responsible for a fault or doing something wrong

includes blame and criticism more generally, not only fault assignment
blameworthiness
vsreprehensibility
1 7.6

A quality of being at fault for something wrong

is broader covering general disapproval as well as blame
culpableness
vsreprehensibility
9.0

Being at fault for doing something wrong

puts weight on blame and disapproval beyond assigned responsibility
dishonorableness
vsreprehensibility
  • US
9.3

A quality of not being worthy of respect

is about deserving blame, criticism, or disapproval rather than loss of respect
disgracefulness
vsreprehensibility
7.8

The state of deserving public shame because of wrong actions

covers blame and criticism whether private or public rather than only public shame
shamefulness
vsreprehensibility
6.0

A feeling of embarrassment and being judged by other people

focuses on blame, criticism, or disapproval rather than the emotion of shame
contemptibility
vsreprehensibility
  • Offensive
9.8

Being so bad that people feel strong dislike and disrespect

is about blame and criticism rather than extreme scorn or worthlessness

Antonyms

blamelessness
6.9

A state of not having done anything wrong

How Blameworthy

criminality
24 5.6
reprehensibility
  • Formal
9.1
culpability
20 8.3
fault
∞ 1.8

Surface Forms

reprehensibility singular
reprehensibilities plural

Morphology

reprehensibility = reprehensible (semi-transparent) = reprehend + ible + ity

Standard noun formation from the adjective 'reprehensible' using the productive suffix '-ity' to denote the quality or state.

Etymology

Reprehensibility comes from the Latin reprehendere, which meant 'to blame' and is built on prehendere meaning 'to take', the same root you see in apprehend and comprehend. So, something 'reprehensible' deserves blame, and reprehensibility is the quality of being blameworthy.