disprezzabile

Disprezzabile is an Italian adjective meaning despicable or worthy of contempt. It describes persons, actions, or attitudes that provoke moral disapproval and deserve to be despised. The term emphasizes a strong negative judgment beyond mere poor quality.

Etymology: The word derives from the verb disprezzare (to despise) combined with the suffix -abile, which forms adjectives indicating something that can be or should be valued negatively. Its Latin ancestor is disprezzabilis.

Usage: The term is relatively formal and common in written Italian, especially in moral critique, journalism, and literature. It can refer to a single act, a character, or a general tendency. It is stronger than riprovevole (reprehensible) or spregevole (despicable) in certain contexts, though nuance depends on the author and the situation.

Grammar: Disprezzabile is an adjective that agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. For -abile adjectives, the masculine and feminine singular forms are identical: disprezzabile. The plural form is disprezzabili for both genders.

Synonyms and antonyms: Synonyms include riprovevole, spregevole, ignobile, odioso. Antonyms include stimabile, ammirevole, rispettabile, onorevole.

Examples: "Quel comportamento è disprezzabile." "Le sue azioni disprezzabili hanno suscitato indignazione pubblica." See also: disprezzare, spregevole, riprovevole.