deplorable

[ dih-plawr-uh-buhl, -plohr- ]

adjective

1. causing or being a subject for grief or regret; lamentable:

   the deplorable death of a friend.

2. causing or being a subject for censure, reproach, or disapproval; wretched; very bad:

   This room is in deplorable order. You have deplorable manners!

deplorable

/ dɪˈplɔːrəbəl /

adjective

1. lamentable

   a deplorable lack of taste

2. worthy of censure or reproach; very bad

   deplorable behaviour

Derived Forms

• deˈplorably, adverb
• deˈplorableness, noun

Other Words From

• de·plora·ble·ness de·plora·bili·ty noun
• de·plora·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of deplorable¹

1605–15; < French déplorable < Middle French, equivalent to deplor ( er ) ( deplore ) + -able -able

Example Sentences

It is too late to help those who were killed by ISIS, but those who escaped and survived are living in deplorable conditions.

From The Daily Beast

These things are absolutely deplorable, but they were par for the course for some of the more dedicated “Gamers” in the community.

From The Daily Beast

The state of childcare in this nation goes from inadequate to deplorable, even as compared to the child care centers of the 1940s.

From The Daily Beast

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is fairly deplorable from a feminist standpoint; plus, it has very little to do with sports.

From The Daily Beast

FCC chairman Michael Powell deemed it “classless, crass and deplorable.”

From The Daily Beast

The Spanish troops fared far worse; their condition became more and more deplorable.

From Project Gutenberg

Now, go and mend that deplorable frock, and if you don't dream over it, you won't waste too much of your holiday.

From Project Gutenberg

I was here a witness of a deplorable scene, a consequence of an erroneous religious belief of the otherwise amiable Hindoos.

From Project Gutenberg

The post-office strike has already shown us what deplorable disasters even a skirmish can bring about.

From Project Gutenberg

This is the end; what was the beginning,—the conditions necessary to bring about this deplorable result?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dire
• disastrous
• disgraceful
• distressing
• dreadful
• grievous
• horrifying
• intolerable
• lamentable
• miserable
• regrettable
• reprehensible
• scandalous
• terrible
• tragic
• unbearable
• unsatisfactory
• wretched