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reprehensible

reprehensible

44 7.9
Morally wrong and deserving strong criticism
  • adjective
  • /ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnsəbl/
  • Formal
: reprensible
  • The company's decision to ignore safety regulations was truly reprehensible and put many employees at risk.
  • morally reprehensible
  • a reprehensible act
  • find reprehensible

And I'm a big defender of those people and think it's reprehensible the way they've been treated.

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Examples

  • Situation of our families is such that any alliance between us must be regarded as a highly reprehensible connection.

  • The reprehensible ones taint the dignity of the others.

  • But but look, you can do a lot of great things and still do some pretty reprehensible things as well.

  • To speak as you do, it's reprehensible.

  • Where do they stand on this, the most reprehensible aspect of the case?

    Academic text (2002)
  • But I think it's reprehensible what Republicans are doing in terms of voting around the country.

  • Their victory is simply to further demonstrate just how reprehensible their behavior has been.

    Blog text (2)
  • To be certain, there is much that is reprehensible in Saddam's conduct.

    Academic text (1991)
  • We're gonna find all of these dogs loving forever homes because what you're doing is reprehensible.

  • We know that discrimination is both illegal and morally reprehensible, but what are our specific ethical obligations in this regard?

    Academic text (1998)

Synonyms

shameful
vsreprehensible
90 4.7

Causing shame because it is morally wrong

emphasizes feeling of shame rather than formal condemnation
despicable
vsreprehensible
  • Offensive
87 5.7

Very bad in a way that makes people feel strong dislike and disgust

is harsher focusing on intense contempt rather than general disapproval
disgraceful
vsreprehensible
44 3.0

Very bad or shocking behaviour that makes people lose respect

is more about public shame than private moral blame
wretched
vsreprehensible
  • Offensive
44 7.1

Very bad in a moral way and deserving strong blame

is stronger stressing severe moral failure more than typical blame
unforgivable
vsreprehensible
43 5.2

So bad that people will not accept it

expresses unforgiveness not just deserving strong criticism alone
repugnant
vsreprehensible
35 7.8

Very unpleasant and morally wrong to most people

focuses on strong disgust rather than formal blame or guilt
deplorable
vsreprehensible
34 6.8

Very bad and unacceptable, deserving strong criticism

is the same basic idea but adds shock or surprise element
criminal
vsreprehensible
33 3.7

Very wrong and deserving strong blame

often implies breaking rules or laws rather than only moral failing
inexcusable
vsreprehensible
32 5.6

Too bad to be forgiven

is narrower focusing on unforgiveness instead of general blame
culpable
vsreprehensible
26 7.5

Deserving blame for doing something wrong

focuses on blame without implying legal or direct responsibility
vicious
vsreprehensible
20 4.9

Morally wrong or deserving strong criticism

emphasizes wickedness as a character flaw rather than only the act
dishonorable
vsreprehensible
  • US
19 6.0

Not honest or fair and causing shame

focuses on violated principles rather than general wrongdoing
ungodly
vsreprehensible
18 7.2

Morally wrong because it goes against religious rules

carries religious judgment while general moral blame is secular
contemptible
vsreprehensible
  • Offensive
14 7.4

Very bad and makes people feel angry or disgusted

is similar but may be used for milder or social scorn
damnable
vsreprehensible
  • Formal
10 8.5

Something that people strongly blame or hate for being very bad

carries strong moral or emotional condemnation beyond mere blame
disreputable
vsreprehensible
9 7.1

Not trusted or respected because of bad behavior

relates to social standing rather than direct moral blame
unworthy
vsreprehensible
  • Offensive
7 5.4

Deserves strong blame or dislike

is more absolute stressing lack of moral value rather than specific fault
execrable
vsreprehensible
  • Formal
4 9.5

Very bad and unpleasant, causing strong dislike

is more extreme in degree than typical strong criticism
unpardonable
vsreprehensible
3 7.6

An action so bad that people cannot forgive it

focuses on inability to forgive rather than general blameworthiness
blameworthy
vsreprehensible
1 6.5

Deserving blame for doing something wrong or harmful

is the common formal label used for serious moral criticism
condemnable
vsreprehensible
1 7.5

Deserving strong criticism for being wrong

is the usual word for deserving strong criticism generally
discreditable
vsreprehensible
1 7.6

Likely to harm someone's reputation by showing shameful behaviour

is more about reputation damage than moral guilt
blamable
vsreprehensible
1 6.3

Deserving criticism for doing something wrong or causing harm

is the preferred term used to express strong disapproval
blameful
vsreprehensible
1 7.9

Deserving criticism because someone did something wrong

is the general formal word for strong moral criticism
blameable
vsreprehensible
1 6.4

People think it caused harm or did something wrong

is the same general idea but expressed in standard formal usage
criticizable
vsreprehensible
1 6.3

Something people can fairly say is wrong or bad

suggests it can be criticized rather than deserves strong condemnation
reproachable
vsreprehensible
1 7.5

Deserving blame for doing something wrong

is the broader term for deserving strong disapproval not only acts
censurable
vsreprehensible
  • Formal
1 8.9

Deserving blame or formal criticism

is the general term for strong moral disapproval without formal process

Antonyms

4 4.5

Deserving approval or admiration

How Blameworthy

despicable
  • Offensive
87 5.7
reprehensible
  • Formal
44 7.9
blameworthy
1 6.5
questionable
162 3.9
blameless
17 3.6

Surface Forms

reprehensible positive

Morphology

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

Formed by the productive suffix '-ible' from the verb 'reprehend', but the verb is relatively rare so the derivation may not be obvious to average learners.

Etymology

Reprehensible comes from the Latin reprehendere, where re- means 'back' and prehend means 'to take', the same root you see in comprehend and apprehend. The original idea was to 'hold someone for a fault', so something reprehensible is 'deserving strong criticism' or blame.