as in vile
not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency
the detestable actions of a nasty little man
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Recent Examples of detestable
No matter how detestable the overthrown governments may be, precedents show that regime changes lead neither to democracy nor to peace, but to chaos, civil war and dictatorship.
—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
3 Jan. 2026
Since season 1, Steve has evolved from detestable jock to one of the series’ most beloved and protective figures.
—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Dec. 2025
But the context, circumstances and lack of reflection made his this detestable being.
—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
25 Aug. 2025
But a wave of summer shows were canceled in response, with conservative leader Kemi Badenoch—a uniquely detestable political figure in a country that perfected the form—calling on Glastonbury to remove the band from this year’s bill.
—
Shaad D’souza,
Pitchfork,
28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for detestable
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
3 Jan. 2026
Since season 1, Steve has evolved from detestable jock to one of the series’ most beloved and protective figures.
—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Dec. 2025
But the context, circumstances and lack of reflection made his this detestable being.
—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
25 Aug. 2025
But a wave of summer shows were canceled in response, with conservative leader Kemi Badenoch—a uniquely detestable political figure in a country that perfected the form—calling on Glastonbury to remove the band from this year’s bill.
—
Shaad D’souza,
Pitchfork,
28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for detestable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detestable
Adjective
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Powerful, rich people filled the lawn to watch a violent sport that ended with a vile and racist comment.
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That person is referring to heavyweight Josh Hokit, who is facing widespread backlash for making a vile joke about former first lady Michelle Obama after winning his match over Derrick Lewis.
Adjective
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Court records show that 60-year-old Bradley Kyle Martin, of Dearborn Heights, is charged with using a computer or internet to communicate with another person to commit a crime and accosting children for immoral purposes.
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These monsters—its antitheses—constitute that part of our nature that urges us to be sensible and strong, and that inclines us to see the life drive as trivial, weak, sentimental and immoral.
Adjective
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Those who have sustained a severe burn or dirty wound should follow up with a booster after five years, according to the CDC.
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Down Pennsylvania Avenue, a man in a karate gi, disposable gloves, and dirty white sneakers was hauling a cart by means of a homemade yoke strapped across his shoulders.
Adjective
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We’re used to nasty, hateful, and sometimes violent things being said about us and even about our family.
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Tarik Skubal was nasty against the Yankees.
Adjective
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Swift moved on from one Brit to the next, quietly dating actor Joe Alwyn from 2017 to 2023, while the world spent back-to-back cruel summers without Taymerica.
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This is particularly gratifying given the absurd and cruel trolling the young actress received from the toxic corners of internet fandom leading up to the film’s release.
Adjective
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Predictions: Jamie Bell, Charlie Hunnam, Oscar Isaac, Matthew Macfadyen, Matthew Rhys A loaded category is headlined by Carey Mulligan’s fierce, contemptible, often hilarious performance as Oscar Isaac’s fed-up wife in Beef.
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The habits that sustain this treaty and this climate are precisely those that radicals on all sides find contemptible: compromise, procedural fidelity, the refusal to go for broke.
Adjective
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Judge calls Heuermann ‘despicable’ As a series of victims’ kin spoke, Heuermann sat with his hands on the defense table, looking straight ahead and lightly tapping his fingers.
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Among the other fan favorites who would make for exciting returns on the new show are Amaury Nolasco as Michael's loyal cellmate Fernando Sucre, William Fichtner as former FBI agent Alexander Mahone, and Robert Knepper as the despicable predator T-Bag.
Adjective
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That’s still high, but moves downward mean less chance of a vicious cycle where expectations for higher inflation drive changes in behavior that create higher inflation.
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That’s still high, but moves downward mean less chance of a vicious cycle where expectations for higher inflation drive changes in behavior that create higher inflation.
Cite this Entry
“Detestable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detestable. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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