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
-
Powerful, rich people filled the lawn to watch a violent sport that ended with a vile and racist comment.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 June 2026
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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.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
Religious practitioners may also regard nonheterosexual orientations or non-cisgender identities as immoral or otherwise inconsistent with their religious beliefs.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 June 2026
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Republicans, grow a spine and stop the immoral president.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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There are two freezer martini variations – one with vodka, served dirty and another with gin and a lemon twist.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 June 2026
-
Wet bathing suits and dirty clothes need somewhere to go once your kid has changed into something dry and clean.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
Those early 2010s Blackhawks teams were nasty, and they were all led by Toews.—
Matt Reigle,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
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Lindy Ruff’s system was a tough fit, and a nasty ankle injury derailed his initial momentum in upstate New York.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
17 June 2026
Adjective
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Still, the simple story — written by Jordan Tannahill, who adapted his own book, and directed by Janicza Bravo — illustrates various destructive choices and cruel actions ostensibly driven by love.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
12 June 2026
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Here is the part that feels especially cruel.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
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.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
2 May 2026
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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.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But Bradley typically found ways to complicate even his most despicable characters.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
15 June 2026
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Ditto his despicable aides and Cabinet members, his unprincipled sycophants and suck-ups.—
Robert B. Reich,
Hartford Courant,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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The story follows vicious ex-con, Max Cady (Bardem) and his revenge plot against married couple Tom (Patrick Wilson) and Anna Bowden (Adams).—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
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Mahmic’s vicious goal in traffic salvaged some good feeling before a decisive showdown with Qatar next week.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detestable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detestable. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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