reprobate

American  

[rep-ruh-beyt] / ˈrɛp rəˌbeɪt /

noun

1. a depraved, unprincipled, or wicked person.

   a drunken reprobate.

   Synonyms:

   cad, rascal, wretch, miscreant, wastrel, scoundrel, tramp, rogue

2. a person rejected by God and beyond hope of salvation.

   Synonyms:

   pariah, outcast

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adjective

1. morally depraved; unprincipled; bad.

   Synonyms:

   corrupt, evil, sinful, wicked

2. rejected by God and beyond hope of salvation.

verb (used with object)

reprobated, reprobating

1. to disapprove, condemn, or censure.

   Synonyms:

   reprove, rebuke, blame, reprehend

2. (of God) to reject (a person), as for sin; exclude from the number of the elect or from salvation.

reprobate British  

/ ˈrɛprəʊˌbeɪt, ˈrɛprəbəsɪ /

adjective

1. morally unprincipled; depraved

2. Christianity destined or condemned to eternal punishment in hell

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noun

1. an unprincipled, depraved, or damned person

2. a disreputable or roguish person

   the old reprobate

verb

1. to disapprove of; condemn

2. (of God) to destine, consign, or condemn to eternal punishment in hell

Other Word Forms

• reprobacy noun
• reprobateness noun
• reprobater noun
• unreprobated adjective

Etymology

Origin of reprobate

1400–50; late Middle English reprobaten < Latin reprobātus; past participle of reprobāre to reprove

Example Sentences

The other is “Fleabag”: Like Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s acidic reprobate, Ms. Weisz’s character is unconstrained by a fourth wall, sharing with us, reflecting, observing, making wisecracks but not being particularly funny.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

Throughout the interview he describes himself, variously, as the "serial pest nuisance of Melbourne" and "an old reprobate, easily forgiven".

From BBC • Sep. 30, 2019

She ended by citing Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary as an example of the power of the reprobate imagination.

From The Guardian • Feb. 2, 2019

But when posts don't cut it, a public reprobate has few places in which to turn.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 25, 2016

“He was just an old reprobate who lived poor and died broke,” Grandma said.

From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck