as in vile
not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency
the detestable actions of a nasty little man
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of detestable
This all came on the heels of a family tragedy that made my job seem even more detestable and stupid.
—
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
-
The dancing on the death of somebody was pretty vile.Miranda Kennedy, Vox, 10 Dec. 2024
-
The hour sits with him as his anxiety builds, causing some to sympathize with him despite his typical vile behavior.EW Staff, EW.com, 5 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Regulated sportsbooks find gambling on minors immoral in some respects, but you guys don’t.Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
-
In a 2022 Pew Research Center study, growing numbers of Americans said members of the other party are dishonest, immoral and closed-minded.Rachel Carlson, NPR, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
The dirty secret is that students don't want to take courses in neo-Marxist nonsense.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
-
But this flavor swaps dirty diesel for a clean and quiet electric drivetrain built around a 74-kWh battery pack for more than 90 miles (150 km) of hauling over all kinds of challenging terrain.Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Wireless Humidifier Another Healthy Home Awards winner, this portable humidifier can sit on top of their desk or nightstand to hydrate dry skin (or help a cold feel a little less nasty).Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 10 Dec. 2024
-
Treinen rewarded his manager’s faith in him by retiring the dangerous Giancarlo Stanton on a first-pitch fly out to right field and striking out Anthony Rizzo with a nasty 86-mph sweeper to end the inning.Mike DiGiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Snape is the cruel but complex potions master at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry, played by Alan Rickman in all seven Harry Potter films.Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
-
In Season 2, a cruel winter brings new challenges and unfinished business to Jacob (Ford) and Cara (Mirren) back at Dutton ranch.Denise Petski, Deadline, 5 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Mangione allegedly took a human life, which is despicable.Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024
-
And now, a woman has lost her life because of this despicable act.Calvin Milliner, ABC News, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
That was confirmed by his patron in Moscow, which supported the regime in crushing what started as a peaceful protest movement during the Arab Spring and became a vicious civil war that killed hundreds of thousands and sparked a refugee crisis.Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 9 Dec. 2024
-
Its main proxy, Hezbollah, was crippled by a pager attack on its hierarchy, and then by weeks of vicious airstrikes.Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 7 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near detestable
Cite this Entry
“Detestable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detestable. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share