# despicable

/dɪˈspɪkəbəɫ/ (US) · /dɪspˈɪkəbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/despicable
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. deserving contempt

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

describing an action or person that is so bad or cruel that they deserve to be hated.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. a wicked person

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

a person who is very bad or cruel.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- He is a despicable liar.
- The manager's despicable treatment of staff caused several resignations.
- History often remembers the despicable acts of tyrants long after their political power has faded into obscurity.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.