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
This all came on the heels of a family tragedy that made my job seem even more detestable and stupid.
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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
In telling its parable about the problems of wealth concentration so well, Succession was hilarious yet horrifying, small yet large, and relatable yet detestable.
—Ars Staff, Ars Technica, 29 Dec. 2023
If the Russian soldiers were sometimes alarmingly young, the Donbas militiamen looked much too old and out of shape to be at war, and while the Russians were at first cordial, the militiamen made a point of being detestable.
—James Verini Paolo Pellegrin, New York Times, 1 Nov. 2023
See all Example Sentences for detestable 
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
In telling its parable about the problems of wealth concentration so well, Succession was hilarious yet horrifying, small yet large, and relatable yet detestable.
—Ars Staff, Ars Technica, 29 Dec. 2023
If the Russian soldiers were sometimes alarmingly young, the Donbas militiamen looked much too old and out of shape to be at war, and while the Russians were at first cordial, the militiamen made a point of being detestable.
—James Verini Paolo Pellegrin, New York Times, 1 Nov. 2023
See all Example Sentences for detestable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detestable
Adjective
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His vile ways are what made season 6, episode 9's incredible Battle of the Bastards resonate.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025
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David Tennant is spectacular as always as the rather vile, vengeful Tony Baddingham, a ruthless TV executive with axes to grind.Erik Kain, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Growing shares in each party describe those in the other party as more closed-minded, dishonest, immoral and unintelligent than other Americans.NBC News, NBC News, 22 Dec. 2024
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Last week’s interview saw CBS Mornings co-host Tony Dokoupil speak with author Ta-Nehisi Coates about his new book The Message, which passionately argues that Israel’s treatment of Palestinians is immoral and should be condemned.Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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This set also comes with a shoe bag that has two compartments and can double as a laundry bag for dirty clothes during your trip.Rachel Trujillo, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2025
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Rafael takes the fall for the murder, but only after the real killer — likely a dirty cop — kidnaps his daughter Sunny.Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The net front is the nastiest place on an NHL rink.Chris Branch, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
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The second season trailer, which dropped on Wednesday, sees the title character who is played by Amer, who co-created the series with Ramy Youssef, trying to get back into the U.S. from Mexico after becoming entangled with nasty coyotes at the end of the first season in 2022.Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Shahana Goswami plays the lead role of a widow who lands the job of a cop due to life’s cruel twists.Sweta Kaushal, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
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In a cruel irony, revelers had gathered to welcome a new beginning.Matthew Continetti, National Review, 4 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Most Europeans find Donald Trump alien and contemptible and a man unsuited for the U.S. presidency.David Goodart, Foreign Affairs, 15 Aug. 2017
Adjective
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Prophecy deepens the audience’s understanding of why these women crave absolute power despite its dangers, and their despicable methods to attain it.Emma Stefansky, The Atlantic, 21 Dec. 2024
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Even Martha Washington bore in on the Federalist side, saying that Jefferson was despicable, the most despicable mankind of all.NBC News, NBC News, 22 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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That’s when Evans, in a full sprint, blindsided Lattimore with a vicious hit in the back and knocked him to the ground.Rick Stroud, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2025
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Several fast-growing wildfires fueled by a vicious Southern California wind storm are devastating communities across the Los Angeles region, with homes being burned to the ground and tens of thousands of people evacuating to safety.Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near detestable
Cite this Entry
“Detestable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detestable. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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