Deserving of criticism or condemnation; morally wrong or unacceptable. Used to describe actions or behavior that should be blamed or disapproved of.
From Latin 'reprehendere' meaning 'to hold back, check, or blame,' composed of 're-' (back) and 'prehendere' (to grasp). Entered English via Old French in the 14th century, maintaining its sense of moral censure throughout its evolution.
This word carries the weight of moral judgment in its very structure - the Latin root 'prehendere' (to grasp) suggests mentally grasping or comprehending wrongdoing before condemning it. It's stronger than simply 'bad' or 'wrong' because it implies a deliberate moral failing that reasonable people should recognize and criticize.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.