Deplorable vs Despicable – What’s the difference?

Question

Many people think that the words “deplorable” and “despicable” mean the same thing. However, there is a distinction between these two words.

Deplorable vs Despicable

The difference between deplorable and despicable lies in the severity of their negativity. Deplorable is more severe than despicable, which means that you can use deplorable to describe people or things that are even worse than just plain bad–like if someone does something so terrible that it makes you want to throw up your hands in disgust and cry out “WTF?!”

The word despicable is milder than deplorable, meaning it describes someone who has done something really bad but not quite so awful as being deserving of vomit-inducing disgust.

The meaning of these words can be confusing, but they have very different meanings.

The meaning of these words can be confusing, but they have very different meanings.

The word “deplorable” is often used incorrectly to describe something that someone finds despicable or reprehensible. However, it has its own definition and origin in the English language as a result of its Latin roots (deplorare). The word “despicable” also has Latin roots (despicere), but its meaning differs significantly from deplorable’s: while deplorable means worthy of pity or compassion, despicable means worthy of contempt or scorn.

The connotations associated with each word are also different; while deplorable implies some level of pity or sympathy for whatever state one finds himself/herself in–whether this be poverty or illness–it does not necessarily mean that there is hope for improvement; instead it implies helplessness against any given situation.

Now that you know the difference between the words deplorable and despicable, you can use them correctly in your writing. You may also want to consider whether or not they are appropriate words for what you’re trying to say. In most cases, we recommend using despicable instead of deplorable because it has a more positive connotation than its counterpart does (and also doesn’t sound like something out of Harry Potter).

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Answer ( 1 )

  1. OpitzMartin
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    2023-02-12T11:11:00+00:00
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    Are you struggling to differentiate between the words “deplorable” and “despicable”? 🤔 It’s understandable — both words refer to something bad or terrible, but the difference between them can be subtle. 🤔

    Let’s start with “deplorable”. Deplorable means something is so bad it must be strongly condemned. 🤬 This can be anything from a crime to a poor decision, and it is often used to describe an immoral or unethical action. For example, someone might say: “The war in Syria is deplorable — it must be stopped immediately.”

    Now, let’s look at “despicable”. Despicable means something is contemptible, mean, or lacking in moral values. 🤮 A despicable action is often the kind of thing that disgusts people, like lying to your friends or stealing from a charity. For example, you might hear someone say: “What they did to that homeless woman was despicable — they should be ashamed of themselves.”

    So, to sum up the difference between deplorable and despicable: deplorable actions are so bad they must be strongly condemned, whereas despicable actions are mean and contemptible. 🤯

    Have you got the difference between these two words down now? 🤔 Understanding the difference between the two can help you express your feelings more accurately and precisely. 😉

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