deplorable

[dih-plawr-uh-buhl, -plohr-] / dɪˈplɔr ə bəl, -ˈploʊr- /

ADJECTIVE

unfortunate, shameful

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dire disastrous disgraceful distressing dreadful grievous horrifying intolerable lamentable miserable regrettable reprehensible scandalous terrible tragic unbearable unsatisfactory wretched

WEAK

afflictive awful blameworthy bummer calamitous dirty dishonorable disreputable dolorous downer execrable faulty godawful grim heartbreaking heartrending lousy melancholy mournful opprobrious overwhelming pitiable poor rotten sad sickening stinking woeful

Antonyms

STRONGEST

acceptable bearable blessed fortunate good happy lucky nice pleasant respectable satisfactory successful tolerable wonderful

WEAK

cheerful delightful excellent shameless

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"They left me there all night, with damp walls, toilets in a deplorable state with hundreds of cockroaches and fecal matter that has built up over months," Castro recounted.

From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026

That Mr. Mamdani can be accurately portrayed as a culture warrior of impeccable and deplorable standing is not in question.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 3, 2025

Two bears rescued from "deplorable conditions" in Armenia by an East Sussex charity have been making the most of their new lives in a bear sanctuary.

From BBC • Oct. 22, 2025

MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow called Leavitt’s Fox comments “a deplorable moment,” highlighting how senior officials’ words can quickly dominate headlines and social media.

From Salon • Oct. 19, 2025

Eavesdropping is a deplorable habit, but I have developed worse ones since. “... much about them,” I heard Ben say.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Vocabulary lists containing deplorable

The Book Thief

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Grade 11, List 4

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"A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift

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