despicable [ des -pi-kuh -buh l, dih-spik -uh - ] SHOW IPA
/ ˈdɛs pɪ kə bəl, dɪˈspɪk ə- / PHONETIC RESPELLING
adjective
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. OTHER WORDS FOR despicable
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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
OTHER WORDS FROM despicable des·pi·ca·bil·i·ty, des·pi·ca·ble·ness, noun des·pi·ca·bly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
Words related to despicable contemptible ,
degrading ,
disgraceful ,
disreputable ,
loathsome ,
reprehensible ,
shameful ,
vile ,
wretched ,
abject ,
awful ,
base ,
beastly ,
cheap ,
detestable ,
dirty ,
down ,
ignominious ,
infamous ,
insignificant
How to use despicable in a sentence More despicably, mothers often bear the brunt of the communal stigma.
And, despicably, they used the memory of the four slain Americans as cover for their election-year political strategy.
As it turns out, they do so selfishly, obnoxiously, and despicably.
Without a doubt, Dharun Ravi behaved despicably to his Rutgers roommate.
She had set herself a task and she clung to it; but she appeared to herself despicably idle.
I like it in the French style, all but the lait; that destroys the flavor, besides making it despicably weak.
But opinion feels that there is something despicably sordid in using this particular relation as a financial engine.
We cant afford it is the plea most frequently heard, and a despicably selfish one it is.
Trust me, there's many a man who would like to be generous, but is made despicably mean by necessity.
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British Dictionary definitions for despicable
despicable
/ (dɪˈspɪkəbə l , ˈdɛspɪk- ) /
adjective
worthy of being despised; contemptible; mean
Derived forms of despicable despicability or despicableness , noun despicably , adverb Word Origin for despicable C16: from Late Latin dēspicābilis, from dēspicārī to disdain; compare despise
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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