Despicable is an adjective meaning deserving strong condemnation or scorn due to wicked or vile behavior. It denotes actions or a person that are morally reprehensible and worthy of contempt. The term often carries a sharp, judgmental tone and is used when describing unethical conduct or character.
"The villain’s despicable deception finally caught up with him."
"She walked away from the arsonist, calling his actions despicable."
"The politician’s despicable remarks sparked widespread outrage."
"They refused to associate with him after his despicable betrayal."
Despicable derives from the Latin despicabilis, meaning ‘worthy of contempt,’ formed from despicere ‘to look down on, disdain,’ from de- ‘down’ + specere ‘to look.’ The suffix -abilis indicates capability or worthiness. The word entered English via Latin in the late 16th to early 17th century, originally used in moral or literary contexts to describe things worthy of contempt. Over time, its usage broadened to describe persons or deeds that arouse strong moral disapproval. The modern sense emphasizes not just wrongdoing, but the degree to which it elicits contempt, often with a subjective, judgment-laden tone. First known uses appear in early modern texts, with authors employing despicable to intensify condemnatory statements about villains, criminals, or treacherous behavior. The word has remained consistently strong, formal enough for writing and speech that aims to criticize egregious behavior. The form despicable is frequently encountered as an attributive adjective before nouns (a despicable act), and the noun form is despicability in some contexts, though rare. The term is commonly found in political, literary, and journalistic contexts where moral condemnation is central.
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Words that rhyme with "Despicable"
-kle sounds
-kel sounds
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Pronounce as di-SPIC-a-ble, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA US/UK/AU: /dɪˈspɪkəb(ə)l/. Start with a short d, then a ɪ vowel, then SPIC (s-p-ɪ-k) with the bow of the tongue raised toward the alveolar ridge, followed by a schwa before the final l. In rapid speech, the second half can compress to /əbl/.
Common mistakes: 1) Stress on the first syllable (des-PIC-able vs des-PI-ca-ble). 2) Mispronouncing SPIC as spɪk without clear i sound or misplacing the tongue for the /ɪ/ and /k/. 3) Weak final syllable, saying des-pi-cul instead of des-pic-a-ble with clear /əb(ə)l/. Correction: emphasize the /ˈspɪk/ chunk, ensure the mid vowels are short but distinct, and finish with a light, quick schwa + l.
US: /dɪˈspɪkəb(ə)l/ with rhotic influence typical; UK: /dɪˈspɪkəbl/ often less pronounced schwa before l; AU: similar to US but with slightly broader vowels and less pronounced r-coloring in non-rhotic contexts. The key differences lie in how /ɪ/ and /ə/ are realized and whether the final syllable is more syllabic or reduced.
The difficulty stems from the sequence spɪk- and the cluster consonants around it, plus the unstressed -able ending. Balancing the short i in /ɪ/ with the following /k/ and the schwa in /əb/ requires precise tongue placement and timing. Non-native speakers often misassign the stress or flatten the vowel, so practice the /spɪk/ vowel blend and ensure the final -ble is clearly articulated without overemphasizing it.
No. In standard pronunciation, every segment of despicable is pronounced: d-i-ˈspɪ-kə-bəl, with each consonant heard and the final -ble pronounced as a light, syllabic -ble. The -e at the end vowel can be very brief or reduced in fast speech, but it is not silent.
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