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It may be easy to grasp that reprehensible is all about blame, but the word’s origins tell a grabbier story. The word comes from the Latin reprehendere (literally “to hold back”), a combination of re- and prehendere, meaning “to grasp.” Prehendere is at the root of other grasp-related words, among them apprehend, used when grabbing hold of bad guys, comprehend, used when it’s concepts that are grasped, and prehensile, used to describe anatomical features—for example, a monkey’s tail or an elephant’s trunk—that grasp especially by wrapping around. Grasp these words, and there’s nothing reprehensible about your grasp on this little corner of the English lexicon.
Examples of reprehensible in a Sentence
Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 7 Apr. 2026
Prisons are filled with the faithful and the daily news reports are overflowing with reprehensible, criminal, degenerate theists.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026
Calling all Democrats evil is incredibly dangerous, not to mention morally reprehensible.
—Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Releasing an old video, which conveniently omits context, on their son’s birthday is a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behavior.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reprehensible
Cite this Entry
“Reprehensible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reprehensible. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reprehensible
adjective
