reprobate 1 of 3

reprobate

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noun

reprobate

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verb

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb reprobate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of reprobate are censure, condemn, criticize, denounce, and reprehend. While all these words mean "to find fault with openly," reprobate implies strong disapproval or firm refusal to sanction.

reprobated his son's unconventional lifestyle

When would censure be a good substitute for reprobate?

The words censure and reprobate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, censure carries a strong suggestion of authority and of reprimanding.

a Senator formally censured by his peers

When could condemn be used to replace reprobate?

The synonyms condemn and reprobate are sometimes interchangeable, but condemn usually suggests an unqualified and final unfavorable judgment.

condemned the government's racial policies

Where would criticize be a reasonable alternative to reprobate?

The words criticize and reprobate can be used in similar contexts, but criticize implies finding fault especially with methods or policies or intentions.

criticized the police for using violence

How are the words denounce and condemn related as synonyms of reprobate?

Denounce adds to condemn the implication of a public declaration.

a pastoral letter denouncing abortion

When might reprehend be a better fit than reprobate?

While in some cases nearly identical to reprobate, reprehend implies both criticism and severe rebuking.

reprehends the self-centeredness of today's students

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of reprobate
Adjective
That’s when Regina’s sardonic sister (Wanda Skyes, the show’s co-creator) steps in and lets him and his reprobate pals have it. Jeanne Jakle, San Antonio Express-News, 21 Apr. 2021 For reference, consider the late, reprobate Southwest Conference. Kevin Sherrington, Dallas News, 13 Jan. 2020
Noun
That tirade paralleled a similar rant by Eminem, the token white reprobate and protégé of Dr. Dre’s degenerate Interscope/Death Row combine. Armond White, National Review, 15 Nov. 2023 Instead, Killers of the Flower Moon pits white reprobates against indigenous innocents. Armond White, National Review, 20 Oct. 2023 See All Example Sentences for reprobate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprobate
Adjective
  • The scene in which Anderson single-handedly faces down both the corrupt deputy and the Klan’s most murderous henchman is a master class in range.
    Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Schwarz sees the blackout as a way for Americans to use their economic might in the form of their purchasing power to fight corporate greed and corrupt politicians.
    Anne Marie Lee, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Hackman was among the most accomplished actors of his generation, appearing as villains, heroes and antiheroes in dozens of dramas, comedies and action films from the 1960s until his retirement in the early 2000s.
    SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN, arkansasonline.com, 2 Mar. 2025
  • There are spells, curses, vendettas, a twist villain, giant dragons who turn into humanoid warriors and many other creatures populating the world of this gargantuan feat of eye-popping computer animation.
    Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 2 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • More than 16,000 of our members sent messages to Congress urging them to vote no on Trump's budget proposal and asking them to reject the Christian nationalist ploy to pit vulnerable communities against each other for the benefit of the few.
    Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Albritton has rejected the idea of passing an open carry bill this year.
    Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In hearings at the Constitutional Court, which is deliberating whether to formally remove Mr. Yoon from office, both Lieutenant General Lee and Lieutenant General Yeo refused to discuss details of their roles for fear that their testimony would be used against them during their own criminal trials.
    Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2025
  • In response, the woman not only refused to bake a cake this year but also skipped the party altogether.
    William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Tragically, the Chesapeake remains significantly degraded and its overall water quality has improved only marginally after 41 years.
    Gerald Winegrad, Baltimore Sun, 10 Feb. 2025
  • Against the backdrop of a degraded web, the improbable success of a volunteer-run website attempting to gather all the world’s knowledge is something to celebrate, not destroy.
    Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Slinging a sports coat over his pajamas, Long pulls up to a curb and finds Tay (Dustin Nguyen), the Vietnamese speaker, plus two silent brutes, Eddie (Phi Vu) and Aden (Dali Benssalah), who muscle into his car and take over everything: the seating arrangements, the air freshener and their driver.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2025
  • The same Cromwellian brutes that persecuted witches in the English village of Warboys in 1589 are alive and well today to bully LGBTQ folks, immigrants, physicians trying to save lives of pregnant women and even scientists like Dr. Anthony Fauci.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 21 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Many criticized his decision as a capitulation to Donald Trump, though Bezos denied those claims.
    Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Their findings paint a more complicated picture, one that her mother has denied.
    Brian Brant, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Research from analytics firm Gallup shows that U.S. alcohol consumption is declining, with younger generations drinking significantly less than their predecessors.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Daily meme coin launches peaked shortly after the $trump coin debut but have declined sharply.
    Billy Bambrough, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reprobate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprobate. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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