Despisable

/dɪˈspaɪzəbəl/ adjective

Definition

Worthy of being despised; contemptible or deserving of scorn.

Etymology

From despise (from Old French despire, Latin despicere 'to look down on') + -able. The suffix -able makes it mean 'capable of being' or 'worthy of being' despised.

Kelly Says

This word is essentially Shakespeare's favorite insult—check out how many times he calls characters 'despicable' in his plays, which had almost the same meaning!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.