reprobate

1 of 3

noun

: an unprincipled or depraved person : scoundrel, rogue

Cemeteries were seldom placed on the north side of a church, which, if used for burial at all, was reserved for unbaptized children, criminals, reprobates and suicides.

—Rosemary Ellen Guiley

reprobate

2 of 3

adjective

1

a

: morally corrupt : depraved

b

: foreordained to damnation

2

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a reprobate

reprobate conduct

3

: expressing or involving reprobation

4

archaic : rejected as worthless or not standing a test : condemned

reprobate

3 of 3

verb

rep·​ro·​bate ˈre-prə-ˌbāt 

reprobated; reprobating

transitive verb

1

: to condemn strongly as unworthy, unacceptable, or evil

reprobating the laxity of the age

2

: to refuse to accept : reject

3

: to foreordain to damnation

reprobative

ˈre-prə-ˌbā-tiv 

adjective

reprobatory

ˈre-prə-bə-ˌtȯr-ē 

adjective

Did you know?

The original reprobates were hardened sinners who had fallen from God's grace. In time, their name was used outside of religious contexts for any person who behaves in a morally wrong way. In Late Latin, reprobare means "to disapprove" or "to condemn."

Synonyms

Noun

• villain
• brute
• savage
• criminal
• offender
• devil
• monster

Adjective

• corrupt
• degraded
• sick

Verb

• reject
• deny
• refuse
• decline

Choose the Right Synonym for reprobate

criticize, reprehend, censure, reprobate, condemn, denounce mean to find fault with openly.

criticize implies finding fault especially with methods or policies or intentions.

criticized the police for using violence

reprehend implies both criticism and severe rebuking.

reprehends the self-centeredness of today's students

censure carries a strong suggestion of authority and of reprimanding.

a Senator formally censured by his peers

reprobate implies strong disapproval or firm refusal to sanction.

reprobated his son's unconventional lifestyle

condemn usually suggests an unqualified and final unfavorable judgment.

condemned the government's racial policies

denounce adds to condemn the implication of a public declaration.

a pastoral letter denouncing abortion

Examples of reprobate in a Sentence

Noun

a program for rehabilitating hard-core reprobates and turning them into hard-working, law-abiding citizens

Adjective

a reprobate judge who could be bribed, and often with astonishing ease

Verb

the board will most likely reprobate the request for parole

without hesitation she reprobated such an indecent idea

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Unlike Vegas with its cast of reprobates and wackos, this joint is classy and clean and just a wee bit indulgent. —David Weiss, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025

They’re typically retired, sitting on pensions and 401(k)s, and may be naive to the techniques favored by con artists and reprobates who run riot on the internet. —Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 9 Sep. 2025

Adjective

Logan has just told Frank that, after 35 years of service, he’s being pushed into a secondary role, in part because Logan is considering which of his reprobate children will be taking over his corporate empire. —Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2023

To many of them, killing someone with such a reprobate mind was justifiable by God’s laws. —Time, 7 Nov. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Late Latin reprobatus, past participle of reprobare — more at reprove

First Known Use

Noun

1592, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

reprobate

1 of 3 verb

rep·​ro·​bate ˈrep-rə-ˌbāt 

reprobated; reprobating

: to condemn strongly as unworthy or evil

reprobation

ˌrep-rə-ˈbā-shən

noun

reprobate

2 of 3 adjective

1

: doomed to hell : condemned

2

: being without any morals : corrupt

3

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a wicked person

reprobate

3 of 3 noun

: a wicked person