Word
despicable
Phoneticsde·spi·ca·ble, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈspɪkəbəɫ/
UK/dɪspˈɪkəbəl/
Definitions
01deserving contempt
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. describing an action or person that is so bad or cruel that they deserve to be hated.
adj. deserving of contempt or intense moral disapproval; extremely unpleasant or evil.
“Stealing money from a charity is a despicable act that hurts many people.”
“The dictator's treatment of political prisoners was widely condemned as a despicable violation of basic human rights.”
Antonyms
02a wicked person
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Archaic · Literary
n. a person who is very bad or cruel.
n. a person who is considered wretched, wicked, or deserving of contempt.
“In the old story, the despicable was finally caught and punished for his crimes.”
“The protagonist found himself surrounded by despicables who cared for nothing but their own greed and survival.”
Usage
This noun use is rare in modern English; the word is almost exclusively used as an adjective today.
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“President Volodymyr Zelensky said the "absolutely cynical and despicable" daytime attack in his home town was carried out in "two waves", with the second strike targeting emergency workers.” “Russian drones have slammed into a busy shopping centre in central Ukraine, killing 16 people in an attack that Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned as “cynical and despicable”.” Etymology
From Late Latin dēspicābilis, from Latin dēspicor, a variant of dēspiciō (“to despise”), from de (“down”) + speciō (“to look at, behold”). First attested in the 1550s. Equivalent to despise + -able.
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
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/despicable