deplorable

adjective

di-ˈplȯr-ə-bəl How to pronounce deplorable (audio)
Definition of deplorablenext
1
as in pitiful
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust we will not tolerate such deplorable behavior in a house of worship

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tragic
of a kind to cause great distress condemned the deplorable conditions in which the family was living

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of deplorable Hospital reconstruction in Cuba The second phase would focus more on rebuilding hospitals and medical centers on the island, which are in a deplorable state. — Sarah Moreno july 1, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026 Several detainees have reportedly been on a hunger strike to protest the inhumane conditions in these deplorable warehouse camps, with overcrowding, physical and psychological abuse, rancid food, scant medical care and many deaths. — Nancy Rudner, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 June 2026 Over 60 dogs and cats were rescued after they were found living in deplorable conditions in Fayette County, police say. — Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 4 June 2026 The Legislature amended DeSantis’ scheme to exempt schools, but that only made a deplorable idea marginally less terrible. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for deplorable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deplorable
  1. pitiful
  2. tragic
  3. lame
  4. unfortunate
  5. cheap
  6. wretched
  7. disgusting
  8. dirty
Adjective
  • Completing the hat trick in pitiful style, Taking on the World was shot on a shoestring budget, helmed by the man behind Highlander III, and forced to rely on stock footage of real-life footballers.
    — Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 26 June 2026
  • Given the national team’s pitiful demise at the Oval, with New Zealand completing victory on the fifth morning, Ben Stokes’ revival in absentia feels like the only consolation from a miserable week.
    — Hector Vickers, New York Times, 21 June 2026
Definition of pitiful
Adjective
  • Further, for a couple like the Warners, who had kept their relationship private, this matter has drawn unwanted attention to a family mourning a tragic loss.
    — Morgan Mouchette, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • This true story follows his ultimately tragic path hiking in the uncharted wilderness of Alaska.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 31 July 2026
Definition of tragic
Adjective
  • The jokes are still wildly scattershot and frequently, knowingly lame; the production is still cheap and cheerfully scrappy; the whole ragged enterprise is still reliant on the evident affection and chemistry between its players to hold it together.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026
  • A couple solid set-pieces, a lame evil corporate villain, a limp Act 1 origin story, and the perfect scene where Pepper performs open-heart surgery on Tony complete the picture.
    — EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of lame
Adjective
  • That is unfortunate for wagon loyalists, but the V60 gets to leave without an awkward farewell edition or cosmetic gimmicks.
    — Josh Max, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • This is especially unfortunate since there’s currently more content mastered in Dolby Vision HDR than in HDR10+, the competing high dynamic range standard.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of unfortunate
Adjective
  • Its latest pickup, the Ford Fathom, will cost a downright cheap $28,350, which should set it up to be a massive seller.
    — Michael Ballaban, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Which explains why even modern-day Russia has recently loaded up with the cheapest possible foreign labor from former Soviet satellite states.
    — Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheap
Adjective
  • Hashimi’s tale of unflagging effort amid wretched inequality astounds.
    — Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 23 July 2026
  • Sixteen children from the same family who were rescued from a dilapidated home in rural Ohio were living in wretched conditions with human waste all around, confined to just one room over much of the past four years, authorities said.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of wretched
Adjective
  • The left's most hated author — JK Rowling — has dropped the hammer on the disgusting things that took place at the Indiana Fever-Seattle Storm game earlier this week.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026
  • Or when some man behaving like a degenerate gambler plods into Chelsea Gray’s DMs with a disgusting slur.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Definition of disgusting
Adjective
  • Some of the booths included food businesses including bakeries and lemonade stands and a dirty soda booth.
    — David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Now condemned and boarded up, cordoned off by sagging tape, dirty roll-up door set to adorn the front pages of tomorrow’s papers.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of dirty

Browse Nearby Words

depletions
deplorable
deplorableness
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Cite this Entry

“Deplorable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deplorable. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on deplorable

Nglish: Translation of deplorable for Spanish Speakers

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