adjective

• 1Deserving strong condemnation.

  ‘the deplorable conditions in which most prisoners are held’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Even if their claims are exaggerated, any loss of life is deplorable and unacceptable.’
  • ‘During the past two days, residents have been setting fires on the streets to highlight deplorable living conditions.’
  • ‘Older people in the locality cannot recollect the roads ever having been in a more deplorable condition.’
  • ‘The animals used for this trade are raised under deplorable conditions and killed solely for their skins and furs.’
  • ‘Although not as large an operation as a puppy mill, backyard breeders often possess the same deplorable conditions.’
  • ‘Housing conditions are frequently deplorable, overcrowded, and substandard.’
  • ‘These deplorable conditions existed in military prisons of both sides.’
  • ‘We have received a complaint from some tourists about a bear being mistreated and kept in deplorable conditions in a snake farm in Pattaya.’
  • ‘Its focus has changed, that's all: it's no longer praise for conduct seen as admirable, but condemnation of antics seen as deplorable.’
  • ‘The conditions inside the building are deplorable, terrible, disgusting.’
  • ‘It is deplorable that the delay in undertaking the job was mainly attributed to the two parties' differences over channels of negotiations.’
  • ‘‘I think it is a deplorable state of affairs,’ he told the town council.’
  • ‘I am disappointed in the deplorable, unconscionable way they are trying to make this a political issue.’
  • ‘Such an unthinkable and deplorable situation would affect every aspect of potential business and the quality of life for the future generations in Swindon.’
  • ‘I write on behalf of a number of Joseph Rowntree pupils - all of whom have received deplorable service from the bus service over recent weeks.’
  • ‘They fail to realize that elderly people, when reduced to a deplorable state of solitude, have all the more need for someone to talk to and interact with.’
  • ‘The killing of innocents is deplorable and appalling in any part of the world.’
  • ‘Not to say that Russell isn't right when he laments the deplorable state of modern culture.’
  • ‘This was, after all, a world in which literacy was rare, and the quality of preaching deplorable.’
  • ‘These kinds of outrages are deplorable and the perpetrators should be brought to justice.’

  Synonyms

  disgraceful, shameful, dishonourable, disreputable, discreditable, unworthy, shabby, inexcusable, unpardonable, unforgivable

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  1. 1.1Shockingly bad in quality.
     ‘her spelling was deplorable’
     More example sentences

     • ‘Should you be able to communicate in Thai (my wife is Thai) you will find the quality of advice deplorable.’
     • ‘Both sides made enough chances, but the finishing was deplorable, but strangely when the odd score came the quality was top drawer.’
     • ‘The quality of the image is a bit deplorable at times but it really doesn't matter, it's what the people say that does.’
     • ‘They are living under deplorable conditions with limited access to safe drinking water, proper sanitation and food.’
     • ‘The authorities should also work to alleviate the deplorable condition of roads to ensure safety.’
     • ‘The game was played in deplorable weather conditions and in the end Galway emerged victorious by a point.’
     • ‘Refugees have to live in most deplorable conditions human beings can face.’
     • ‘The sanitary conditions are deplorable and there are no separate toilets for women.’
     • ‘In her Letters home, Fairchild described the deplorable conditions the nurses had to endure.’
     • ‘That does not seem possible, however, when our roads are in such deplorable condition, food prices are so high and the crime rate is rising daily.’
     • ‘Meanwhile, a source close to the investigation told the newspaper the girl and her family are living in deplorable conditions.’
     • ‘Another matter of serious concern to the people in the Hannon's Strand area is the deplorable condition of the entrance to the beach.’
     • ‘He said that the minister had himself once visited the center and seen the deplorable condition of the road but no action had been taken even then.’
     • ‘Many live without electricity and work in deplorable conditions.’
     • ‘He added that the whole road structure and footpaths in the area were in a deplorable condition.’
     • ‘One of the main reasons for the fall in theatre audience is due to the deplorable condition of the theatres.’
     • ‘Most, especially men, drank to escape deplorable housing conditions and the desperation of a life going nowhere.’
     • ‘The condition of English prisons was deplorable; males and females could be and were crowded into cells together.’
     • ‘The bins could do with a good hosing down, they are in a deplorable condition.’
     • ‘An official, who requested anonymity, said the school was closed one week earlier last term because of the deplorable conditions.’
     Synonyms

     lamentable, regrettable, grievous, unfortunate, wretched, dire, atrocious, abysmal, very bad, awful, terrible, dreadful, diabolical

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