deplorable
adjective
de·plor·able
di-ˈplȯr-ə-bəl 
deplorableness
noun
Examples of deplorable in a Sentence
we will not tolerate such deplorable behavior in a house of worship
condemned the deplorable conditions in which the family was living
Recent Examples on the Web
Two Westmoreland County adults were charged with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the death of a 15-month-old who was found unresponsive in deplorable conditions last year, authorities announced on Monday.
—
Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
The leadership turnover comes at a critical juncture, with the county struggling to increase staffing at the jail, which is under a legal agreement with the Department of Justice to improve deplorable conditions there.
—Cassidy Alexander, AJC.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Residents reportedly lived in deplorable conditions at the since-shuttered recovery site, an unlicensed behavioral health center called the Thomas Suites Campus of Care, where there were reports of rampant drug dealing and no running water.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026
Attorneys for detainees at the Everglades facility have called the conditions deplorable, writing in court documents that rainwater floods their tents and officers go cell-to-cell pressuring detainees to sign voluntary removal orders before they’re allowed to consult their attorneys.
—David Fischer, Sun Sentinel, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deplorable
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.
Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
The leadership turnover comes at a critical juncture, with the county struggling to increase staffing at the jail, which is under a legal agreement with the Department of Justice to improve deplorable conditions there.
—Cassidy Alexander, AJC.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Residents reportedly lived in deplorable conditions at the since-shuttered recovery site, an unlicensed behavioral health center called the Thomas Suites Campus of Care, where there were reports of rampant drug dealing and no running water.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026
Attorneys for detainees at the Everglades facility have called the conditions deplorable, writing in court documents that rainwater floods their tents and officers go cell-to-cell pressuring detainees to sign voluntary removal orders before they’re allowed to consult their attorneys.
—David Fischer, Sun Sentinel, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deplorable
Cite this Entry
“Deplorable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deplorable. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deplorable
adjective
de·plor·able
di-ˈplōr-ə-bəl
-ˈplȯr-
1
: deserving to be deplored : lamentable
a deplorable accident
2
: very bad : wretched
deplorable conditions
deplorableness
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
