Word
deplorable
Phoneticsde·plorable
US/dɪˈpɫɔɹəbəɫ/
UK/dɪplˈɔːɹəbəl/
Definition
adj. very bad and shocking. You use this to describe behavior or conditions that are so poor they deserve to be criticized.
adj. deserving strong condemnation; shockingly bad in quality or morality.
Examples
“The living conditions in the old prison were deplorable.”
“The committee issued a report describing the company's safety record as deplorable and demanding immediate changes.”
“Historians have often reflected on the deplorable treatment of political prisoners during that era, noting the systematic disregard for basic human rights.”
Examples
simple
“The living conditions in the old prison were deplorable.”
contextual
“The committee issued a report describing the company's safety record as deplorable and demanding immediate changes.”
complex
“Historians have often reflected on the deplorable treatment of political prisoners during that era, noting the systematic disregard for basic human rights.”
Usage
Typically used to modify nouns representing conditions, behavior, or standards; often follows a linking verb like 'be' or 'remain'.
Real-World Examples
“A spokesperson had previously described the settlers' actions as "deplorable" and "unacceptable", adding that the government would investigate and arrest those responsible.” “An Israeli spokesman told the BBC the settlers' action was "deplorable" and "unacceptable" and the government would investigate and arrest those responsible.” Etymology
PIE word *de The adjective is borrowed from French déplorable (“lamentable, regrettable”), or from its etymon Late Latin dēplōrābilis + English -able (suffix meaning ‘relevant to, suitable to’). Dēplōrābilis is derived from Latin dēplōrō (“to bemoan, complain about; to bewail, lament, deplore”) + -ābilis (suffix meaning ‘able or worthy to be’); while dēplōrō is from dē- (intensifying prefix) + plōrō (“to cry out; to complain; to lament, deplore”) (possibly from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₃(w)- (“to flow; to swim”)). By surface analysis, deplore + -able. The noun is derived from the adjective. Noun sense 2 refers to a campaign speech by the American politician and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton (born 1947) during the 2016 United States presidential election calling half of the supporters of her Republican opponent Donald Trump (born 1946) a “basket of deplorables”.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/deplorable