despicable

[des-pi-kuh-buhl, dih-spik-uh-]

adjective

1. deserving to be despised, or regarded with distaste, disgust, or disdain; contemptible.

   He was a mean, despicable man, who treated his wife and children badly.

   Synonyms: detestable, mean, vile
   Antonyms: admirable

despicable

/ dɪˈspɪkəbəl, ˈdɛspɪk- /

adjective

1. worthy of being despised; contemptible; mean

Other Word Forms

• despicability noun
• despicableness noun
• despicably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of despicable¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of despicable¹

C16: from Late Latin dēspicābilis, from dēspicārī to disdain; compare _despise

Example Sentences

"Even the despicable characters, they're not removed from me, they are just part of a complex character."

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But that despicable person was either tolerated or embraced by the political establishment, which never imagined that an untested young person who threatened their interests in so many fundamental ways could possibly win.

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Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who called the legislation “despicable” and said forcing officers to reveal their faces increases their risk of being targeted by criminals.

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Sir Keir said it was "un-British to have little respect for others" by staging demonstrations on the anniversary and argued the protests had been used by some as a "despicable excuse to attack British Jews".

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Sir Keir said it was "un-British" to hold protests on the anniversary which, he said, had been used by some as a "despicable excuse to attack British Jews".

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Related Words

• contemptible 
• degrading 
• disgraceful 
• disreputable 
• loathsome 
• reprehensible 
• shameful 
• vile 
• wretched