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
For a Black girl living during one of the worst periods of race relations in America, these were the detestable but sadly predictable terms of engagement.
—
Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2024
The quiet yet profound orangutan Maurice is as lovable as Koba, the villainous ape who betrays his fellow simians, is detestable, and Serkis’s Caesar stands as the film’s MVP.
—Barry Levitt, Vulture, 10 May 2024
This all came on the heels of a family tragedy that made my job seem even more detestable and stupid.
—Lachlan Cartwright, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
And many could withhold their votes in November, returning the White House key to the detestable Donald Trump.
—George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for detestable
Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2024
The quiet yet profound orangutan Maurice is as lovable as Koba, the villainous ape who betrays his fellow simians, is detestable, and Serkis’s Caesar stands as the film’s MVP.
—Barry Levitt, Vulture, 10 May 2024
This all came on the heels of a family tragedy that made my job seem even more detestable and stupid.
—Lachlan Cartwright, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
And many could withhold their votes in November, returning the White House key to the detestable Donald Trump.
—George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for detestable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detestable
Adjective
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There’s a reserved spot in hell for the s*** stains pursuing this vile campaign to erase trans people.—
Andrew Sheeler,
Sacramento Bee,
17 Feb. 2025
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Kanye was tweeting vile antisemitism nonstop since last week.—
James Hibberd,
The Hollywood Reporter,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Even though the Hamas charter directly calls for the murder of all Jews, all people must speak out against the immoral proposal to force an entire population into exile.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Feb. 2025
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The Mann Act criminalizes transporting people across state lines for immoral purposes.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The touch screen was desensitized with a filmy layer of grease, the cumulative tapping of many dirty hands.—
Anelise Chen,
The Atlantic,
25 Feb. 2025
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Mining is one of the dirtiest industries, contributing upwards of 5% of global carbon emissions.—
Justin Worland,
TIME,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Poles needs to find difference-makers, nasty offensive linemen, game-wrecking defensive linemen, ravenous pass rushers … again, the Bears have a lot of needs.—
Jon Greenberg,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
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Meanwhile, Stacey woke up with a nasty hangover from the night prior.—
Abigail Adams,
People.com,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Even then, the final late twist with the penalty felt particularly cruel.—
Patrick Boyland,
The Athletic,
23 Feb. 2025
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Directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland, Still Alice highlights the cruel nature of the illness, where a person can still feel present while simultaneously losing pieces of themselves, creating a unique kind of grief.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Despite his more contemptible tendencies of the past decade, Chappelle is a tremendously gifted stand-up at heart, and these sprawling monologues are always exciting.—
Joe Berkowitz,
Vulture,
19 Jan. 2025
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Fiona Shaw is so perfectly contemptible throughout those scenes on the sailboat, rendering Angelica so completely self-absorbed and so cruel, that her likely death feels like an immediate relief.—
Caroline Framke,
Vulture,
4 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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When Trump speaks out and says that Gaza could become the Côte d’Azur of the Middle East, everyone reacts to this idea, which is otherwise despicable.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2025
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While click baiting may be harmless, producing hate and discontent for personal financial gain is despicable.—
Rochelle Eastman,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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More than 80 women went public with horrific tales of his brutal, coercive and punishing tactics, including launching vicious, career-crippling smear campaigns against those who eluded him, from Mira Sorvino to Ashley Judd.—
Scott Huver,
The Hollywood Reporter,
28 Feb. 2025
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Rushdie has since spoken out about the stabbing Rushdie, 77, testified in the Chautauqua County, New York trial and detailed the vicious attack that upended his life.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
21 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detestable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detestable. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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