despicable
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of despicable
1545–55; < Late Latin dēspicābilis, equivalent to Latin dēspic ( ārī ) to despise or dēspic ( ere ) to look down ( dē- de- + -spic- look, combining form of specere ) + -ābilis -able
Explanation
Stealing the last piece of food from a starving child goes way beyond mean. It's despicable — a vile and harmful act. Mean, nasty, and scummy are synonyms of despicable, but they don't fully convey the awfulness of despicable. A man who lies to get a promotion meant for his co-worker would be considered mean. But the despicable man — the one who is so awful and worthless that he deserves to be despised — is the one who burns down the office building and frames his co-worker for it.
Vocabulary lists containing despicable
Holes
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Bush's Address on 9/11
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Police Scotland described the incident as "deliberate and despicable" and are asking for anyone with information to come forward.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
The French Football Federation — which said in a statement that Amarilla’s remarks were “utterly despicable and unacceptable” and “criminal and reprehensible” — turned in a complaint to the national unit for combating online hate.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
The Minions, we learn in their latest adventure, were originally a seafaring folk who traveled the oceans in rowboats looking for the most evil and despicable master they could possibly find.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
In a statement on Thursday, the governor of the Bandiagara region "condemned these despicable and inhumane acts in the strongest possible terms".
From Barron's ● May 7, 2026
That’s despicable, but I’m not sure it’s beneath me.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
