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
The politician's actions were despicable and caused outrage among the public. [despicable: adjective]
vile
Example
The smell from the garbage was vile and made me feel sick. [vile: adjective]
Example
The criminal's vile actions shocked the community and led to his arrest. [vile: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Vile is more commonly used than despicable in everyday language, but both words are still used frequently to express strong negative emotions.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between despicable and vile?
Despicable is generally considered more formal than vile, and is often used in academic or professional contexts to describe unethical or immoral behavior.
