Vocabulary
Despicable meaning: strong criticism and careful use
Sign in to saveTaking credit for a colleague's work is unfair. Calling it despicable says that you judge the action far more severely than a small mistake.
Use despicable for an action or behavior that you judge to be morally very bad, and choose milder wording when the situation does not call for that strength.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
despicable /dɪˈspɪk.ə.bəl/
The short answer
Despicable means morally very bad and deserving strong disapproval or contempt.
The committee called the deliberate cheating despicable because it harmed other applicants.
Why it works: The word judges intentional harmful behavior, not an ordinary error.
3 more examples
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The manager said it was despicable to hide a safety warning from the workers.
The criticism is strong because hiding a warning could put people at risk.
Not this:The manager said it was
carelessto hide a safety warning from the workers. What changes: Careless may describe a failure to pay attention. Despicable adds the speaker's severe moral judgment. -
Posting a private photograph without permission was a despicable act.
The adjective focuses on the harmful act and the speaker's strong disapproval.
Not this:Posting a private photograph without permission was
an inconsiderate act. What changes: Inconsiderate means not thinking enough about another person. Despicable is much stronger and suits a more serious judgment. -
The journalist criticized the despicable treatment of the injured passengers.
Treatment can be despicable when it is cruel or seriously unfair.
Not this:The journalist criticized the
poor treatmentof the injured passengers. What changes: Poor treatment says the treatment was not good. Despicable says that it was morally shocking or cruel.
Read the full guide
Use despicable when you want to make a serious moral judgment about what someone did. For everyday annoyance, choose a less forceful word such as rude, unfair, or disappointing.
Start with the strength of the judgment
Despicable tells the listener that the speaker sees an action as morally very bad. It fits serious dishonesty, cruelty, or exploitation. Before using it, ask whether you are making that strong judgment or simply saying that something was frustrating.
Leaving a vulnerable customer without the promised support was despicable.
Name the action when you can
The clearest pattern is despicable plus a noun: despicable behavior, a despicable lie, or despicable treatment. You can also use it after be: The decision was despicable. Naming the action explains what you are judging.
Her despicable lie blamed a colleague for an error she had made herself.
Talk about conduct, not a whole person
A person can do something despicable, but that does not require you to make a permanent label about the person. In careful speech and writing, focus on the behavior and give the reason for your judgment. This keeps the sentence specific.
The action was despicable because it targeted people who could not protect themselves. This is more precise than calling someone despicable without explaining why.
Choose a milder word for a smaller problem
Rude, unfair, selfish, careless, and inconsiderate each express criticism with different strengths. A rude comment may be hurtful, but despicable suggests something much more serious. Pick the word that matches both the harm and the evidence you can describe.
The reply was rude, but calling it despicable would overstate the situation.
Choose the word in context
A friend arrives late because a bus breaks down. Is despicable a good description of the friend’s behavior?
No. A transport problem is not a serious moral wrong. You might say the delay was inconvenient, but despicable would be far too strong.
Before you go
Remember this
Use despicable for behavior or actions that you judge to be cruel, dishonest, or deeply wrong. It is a strong word. For a minor problem, choose a more precise and less severe adjective.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Despicable meaning: strong criticism and careful use"
What does despicable mean?
Despicable means morally very bad and deserving intense disapproval or contempt. It is usually used for behavior, treatment, or an action that the speaker judges as seriously wrong.
The manager said it was despicable to hide a safety warning from the workers.
Is despicable a strong word?
Yes. Despicable is much stronger than words such as rude or annoying. It normally suggests cruelty, dishonesty, exploitation, or another serious moral failure.
The manager said it was careless to hide a safety warning from the workers.
Can I say despicable behavior?
Yes. Despicable behavior is a natural phrase when you want to criticize serious conduct. Name the behavior as well, so readers understand the reason for the judgment.
Posting a private photograph without permission was a despicable act.
What is the difference between despicable and rude?
Rude describes bad manners or a lack of respect. Despicable is far stronger and says that an action is morally very bad, not simply impolite.
Posting a private photograph without permission was an inconsiderate act.
How do you pronounce despicable?
Say dih-SPIK-uh-bul. The main stress is on the second syllable, SPIK.
The journalist criticized the despicable treatment of the injured passengers.