1
as in pitiful
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust
even within the prison population, pedophiles are regarded as particularly despicable
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vile
not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency
the cad's despicable behavior toward women
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pathetic
deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy)
a despicable attempt at making a movie comedy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of despicable
Another of Fisk’s enforcers, the British ex-military Buck Cashman (Arty Froushan), comes into his suavely despicable own.
—
Bob Strauss, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Mar. 2026
The horrendous abuses that took place under Bright Horizon's care were nothing short of despicable.
—Tim McNicholas, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
As Katie, her behavior was despicable.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 28 Feb. 2026
But years of racial pandering had created a too-big tent, enlarged in the name of electoral expediency, that offered dark corners for despicable ideologies.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for despicable
Bob Strauss, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Mar. 2026
The horrendous abuses that took place under Bright Horizon's care were nothing short of despicable.
—Tim McNicholas, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
As Katie, her behavior was despicable.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 28 Feb. 2026
But years of racial pandering had created a too-big tent, enlarged in the name of electoral expediency, that offered dark corners for despicable ideologies.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for despicable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despicable
Adjective
-
These two beacons of truth and connoisseurs of mess have been bonded for over a decade, sharing the traumas of a crappy Boston dorm room and a pitiful Brooklyn dating scene.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Most of the time, experts say, vaguebooking boils down to a pitiful plea for attention on the part of the poster.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Fans, some of them little kids parroting what their parents were saying, called him vile names.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
-
His Max is both vile and charming, and the result is undeniably magnetic.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Even without Bosa, 20 sacks is a pathetic number for a franchise that through the years has included fearsome edge players such as Tommy Hart, Cedrick Hardman, Charles Haley and Aldon Smith.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
With Juan Soto still sidelined, Alvarez has recently moved up to fifth in a so-far pathetic Mets lineup.—
Michael Salfino,
New York Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The band felt embarrassed wearing those lame outfits.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Full lame-duck seasons like the one coming up here are rare; and for good reason.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The duo made up for the absence of Wembanyama, who did not clear concussion protocol after a nasty fall knocked him out early from a Game 2 loss.—
Christian Clark,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Lomu did not fit the typical profile Mike Vrabel seeks in linemen, players with a nasty streak and fierce play demeanor.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The sad but realistic turns in their lives are engrossing, as is their slow convergence.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
-
While Vosk’s sassier Cee Cee holds her own in the churn, Barrett, also a fine singer but trapped in the straight-and-narrow part (with sadder wigs), gets swept out to sea.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But by tweaking this archetype again and again, Chan transforms a cheap gimmick into a complex ecosystem of life-forms.—
Dawn Chan,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
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The cheapest available seat was listed at $237 as of Friday evening.—
Annie Costabile,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Pope Francis changed the church’s social teaching to declare capital punishment immoral in all cases.—
Nicole Winfield,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
-
For him, in becoming photosynthetic, civilized beings would only gain in hallmarks of intelligence, like autonomy and compassion, given that a species living off starlight converts energy to work without the messy, immoral mediation of a food chain.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Despicable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despicable. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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