execrable

[ ek-si-kruh-buhl ]

adjective

1. utterly detestable; abominable; abhorrent.
2. very bad:

   an execrable stage performance.

execrable

/ ˈɛksɪkrəbəl /

adjective

1. deserving to be execrated; abhorrent
2. of very poor quality

   an execrable meal

Derived Forms

• ˈexecrably, adverb
• ˈexecrableness, noun

Other Words From

• exe·cra·ble·ness noun
• exe·cra·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of execrable¹

1350–1400 for earlier sense “expressing a curse”; 1480–90 execrable fordef 1; Middle English < Latin ex ( s ) ecrābilis accursed, detestable. See execrate, -able

Word History and Origins

Origin of execrable¹

C14: from Latin exsecrābilis, from exsecrārī to execrate

Example Sentences

The video clip of team highlights over the decades, scored by the execrable Train song “Calling All Angels,” was longer than ever, and more desperate.

From Los Angeles Times

There is certainly no discussion of the director’s last theatrical feature, the execrable “Son of the Pink Panther” which has Roberto Benigni playing Inspector Clouseau’s son.

From Salon

As the Supreme Court careens toward the explosive end of its term, Justice Samuel Alito keeps digging himself deeper into an ethics scandal that is equal parts comical and execrable.

From Slate

Irony being inherently ironic, it would be easy to dismiss as delusional or harebrained any argument to the effect that Donald Trump’s totalistically execrable behavior over time may have had positive effects on the American public.

From Salon

While most of this year’s “funny” commercials were real duds, I actually laughed out loud at the Dunkin spot featuring Ben Affleck, Tom Brady, and a very reluctant Matt Damon barging into Jennifer Lopez’s recording studio to lay down an execrable track as the “DunKings.”

From Slate