What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
despicable
Example
His despicable behavior towards his employees led to his downfall. [despicable: adjective]
Example
It's despicable how some people treat animals. [despicable: adjective]
disgraceful
Example
The way he treated his family was disgraceful. [disgraceful: adjective]
Example
It's disgraceful how some politicians behave in public. [disgraceful: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Disgraceful is more commonly used than despicable in everyday language. Disgraceful is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while despicable is less common and may be considered more extreme.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between despicable and disgraceful?
Disgraceful is more formal than despicable and is appropriate for use in both formal and informal contexts. Despicable is less formal and may be considered more colloquial.