deplorably

IPA/dɪˈplɔːrəbli/
IPA/dɪˈplɔːrəbli/

deplorably — adverb

1. in a manner that is so unacceptable or morally wrong that other people strongly

1.adverbC1
Definition

in a manner that is so unacceptable or morally wrong that other people strongly condemn it — used to describe actions, behaviour, or the quality of something that falls far below an acceptable standard.

Example

The hotel staff behaved deplorably toward the guests from Southeast Asia.

verb + deplorably: behaving in a shocking way

Senator Diaz's remarks about the refugee community were deplorably insensitive.

deplorably + adjective: modifying an adjective of judgement

Common collocations
  • deplorably + slow
  • deplorably + inadequate
  • deplorably + insensitive
  • deplorably + overcrowded
  • behave deplorably
  • treat deplorably
Synonyms
  • shockingly

    similar intensity but less moral judgement; can describe surprising news

  • outrageously

    stronger emphasis on provoking anger or indignation

  • appallingly

    focus on causing horror or dismay rather than moral censure

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

deplorably + adjective

verb + deplorably

Usage Note

Frequently pairs with adjectives of judgement such as insensitive, inadequate, and unacceptable. Subject is typically an institution, group, or situation rather than a single person's casual mistake.

Common Mistakes

The weather was deplorably today.
The weather was deplorable today.
Deplorably is an adverb, not an adjective; use deplorable after the verb to be.
He acted deplorably by forgetting her birthday.
He acted deplorably by insulting his colleague in front of the whole team.
Deplorably implies a serious moral failure, not a minor social slip.

deplorably — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe things that are very bad, but deplorable carries a formal, judgemental tone that sits between shameful and contemptible. Shameful focuses on the embarrassment or disgrace an action brings to the person who did it — a shameful secret or a shameful defeat. Contemptible is stronger and more personal: it suggests the action deserves utter scorn, as in a contemptible betrayal of a friend. Appalling is broader: it can describe morally bad actions (appalling cruelty) or simply shocking ones (appalling weather). Outrageous emphasises the anger provoked rather than the moral judgement. Deplorable is best reserved for actions or conditions that fall short of a standard society has a right to expect — a hospital's deplorable hygiene, a government's deplorable neglect. To choose between them, ask: is the focus on personal disgrace (shameful), cold scorn (contemptible), shock (appalling), anger (outrageous), or a broken social standard (deplorable)?

shameful ↗contemptible ↗appallingoutrageous ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • deplorably
  • utterly deplorable
  • absolutely deplorable
  • thoroughly deplorable

Phrases

  • a deplorable state of affairs
  • deplorable living conditions
  • treat someone deplorably

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Deplorably comes from the adjective deplorable, which entered English in the early 1600s from French déplorable, tracing back to Latin deplorabilis. The Latin root deplorare means 'to bewail or weep bitterly', built from de- ('down, away') and plorare ('to cry out, wail'). The original meaning was 'lamentable' or 'worthy of being wept over', which evolved over the centuries to include moral condemnation. The adverb form deplorably was formed by adding the suffix -ly, which turns adjectives into adverbs of manner.

First known use

1612

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 2