Reprobate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective verb /ˈre-prə-ˌbāt/ rep·ro·bate

Meaning & Definition of Reprobate

Reprobate (noun)

  1. an unprincipled or depraved person, scoundrel, rogue

Reprobate (adjective)

  1. morally corrupt, depraved
  2. foreordained to damnation
  3. of, relating to, or characteristic of a reprobate

Reprobate (verb)

  1. to condemn strongly as unworthy, unacceptable, or evil
  2. to refuse to accept, reject
  3. to foreordain to damnation

Reprobate (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or showing lowered moral character or standards

    "a reprobate judge who could be bribed, and often with astonishing ease"

    similar: corrupt, debased, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated, dissolute, jackleg, libertine, loose, perverse, perverted, rakehell, rakish, sick, unclean, unwholesome, warped
    related: bent (chiefly British), crooked, cutthroat, dishonest, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous, contaminated, spoiled, tainted, bad, evil, immoral, iniquitous, miscreant, nefarious, sinful, vicious, wicked
    opposite: pure, uncorrupt, uncorrupted
    near: incorruptible, ethical, honest, principled, good, moral, righteous, virtuous

Reprobate (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a mean, evil, or unprincipled person

    "a program for rehabilitating hard-core reprobates and turning them into hard-working, law-abiding citizens"

    similar: baddie, beast, brute, caitiff, devil, evildoer, fiend, heavy, hound, knave, meanie, miscreant, monster, nazi, no-good, rapscallion, rascal, rogue, savage, scalawag, scamp, scapegrace, scoundrel, varlet, villain, wretch
    related: villainess, blackguard, criminal, crook, culprit, felon, lawbreaker, malefactor, offender, perp, perpetrator, transgressor, sinner, trespasser, wrongdoer, cad, heel, serpent, snake, viper, bandit, bravo, desperado, outlaw, con, convict, jailbird, assassin, cutthroat, gangster, goon, gunman, hoodlum, hooligan, racketeer, ruffian, thug, rough, rowdy, tough, loser, lowlife, ne'er-do-well, stinker, trash
    near: angel, innocent, saint, hero

Reprobate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to be unwilling to grant

    "the board will most likely reprobate the request for parole"

    similar: decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, nix, refuse, reject, withhold
    related: ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto, rebuff, repel, spurn, check, constrain, curb, hold, keep, repress, restrain, restrict, balk (at), hinder, impede, obstruct
    opposite: allow, concede, grant, let, OK, permit
    near: afford, furnish, give, provide, supply, authorize, commission, license, accede (to), acquiesce, agree (to), assent (to), consent (to), warrant, accord, sanction, vouchsafe

  2. to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to

    "without hesitation she reprobated such an indecent idea"

    similar: balk (at), decline, deselect, disapprove, negative, nix, pass, pass up, refuse, reject, repudiate, spurn, throw out, throw over, turn down, turn one's back on
    related: blow off, disdain, rebuff, scorn, scout, shoot down, overrule, veto, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, dismiss, ignore, abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from), deny, disavow, disclaim, dispute, gainsay, stick, abjure, forswear, recant, renounce, retract, take back, unsay, withdraw, avoid, bypass, detour, contradict, disown, negate, controvert, disagree (with), disprove, rebut, refute, back down, back off, backtrack, disallow, recall, renege, revoke
    opposite: accept, agree (to), approve
    near: condone, countenance, swallow, tolerate, adopt, embrace, receive, take, welcome, accede, acquiesce, agree, assent, consent, choose, handpick, select, espouse, support

  3. to declare to be morally wrong or evil

    "spent much of her talk reprobating the callous indifference of a materialistic society to the suffering of people in the third world"

    similar: anathematize, censure, condemn, damn, decry, denounce, execrate, reprehend
    related: attack, blame, blast, criticize, dis (slang), dispraise, fault, knock, pan, slam, belittle, deprecate, disparage, doom, sentence, convict, blacklist, excommunicate, ostracize, castigate, chastise, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, admonish, chide, reprove, berate, lambaste, rake, scold, upbraid, vituperate, curse, imprecate, abhor, abominate, detest, hate, loathe, revile
    opposite: bless
    near: approve, endorse, sanction, eulogize, exalt, extol, glorify, laud, praise, acclaim, applaud, commend, hail, salute, tout, consecrate, hallow, sanctify, honor, revere, venerate

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Reprobate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Reprobate:

corrupt, debased, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated, dissolute, jackleg, libertine, loose, perverse, perverted, rakehell, rakish, sick, unclean, unwholesome, warped, baddie, beast, brute, caitiff, devil, evildoer, fiend, heavy, hound, knave, meanie, miscreant, monster, nazi, no-good, rapscallion, rascal, rogue, savage

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Reprobate

Words with the opposite meaning of Reprobate:

pure, uncorrupt, uncorrupted, allow, concede, grant, let, OK, permit, accept, agree (to), approve, bless

Related Words for Reprobate

bent, crooked, cutthroat, dishonest, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous, contaminated, spoiled, tainted, bad, evil, immoral, iniquitous, nefarious, sinful, vicious, wicked, villainess, blackguard, criminal, crook, culprit, felon, lawbreaker, malefactor, offender, perp, perpetrator, transgressor

Near Antonyms of Reprobate

incorruptible, ethical, honest, principled, good, moral, righteous, virtuous, angel, innocent, saint, hero, afford, furnish, give, provide, supply, authorize, commission, license, accede (to), acquiesce, assent (to), consent (to), warrant, accord, sanction, vouchsafe, condone, countenance

Word Forms of Reprobate

Inflections: reprobated, reprobating

Derived words: reprobative (adjective), reprobatory (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Reprobate

Middle English, from Late Latin reprobatus, past participle of reprobare reprove

First known use: 1592

Frequently Asked Questions about Reprobate

What does "Reprobate" mean?

"Reprobate" means an unprincipled or depraved person, scoundrel, rogue. As an a noun, an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: an unprincipled or depraved person, scoundrel, rogue. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Reprobate"?

Other words for "Reprobate" include corrupt, debased, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized and depraved. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Reprobate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Reprobate"?

There are 236 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Reprobate". Common alternatives include corrupt, debased, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated and dissolute.

What is the opposite of "Reprobate"?

Antonyms of "Reprobate" include pure, uncorrupt, uncorrupted, allow, concede, grant, let and OK. Near antonyms include incorruptible, ethical, honest and principled.

How do you use "Reprobate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Reprobate" in a sentence: "a reprobate judge who could be bribed, and often with astonishing ease"; "a program for rehabilitating hard-core reprobates and turning them into hard-working, law-abiding citizens"; "the board will most likely reprobate the request for parole".

Is "Reprobate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Reprobate" can be used as a noun, an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Reprobate"?

"Reprobate" is pronounced /ˈre-prə-ˌbāt/ and divided into syllables as rep·ro·bate.

What is the origin of the word "Reprobate"?

"Reprobate" comes from Middle English, from Late Latin reprobatus, past participle of reprobare reprove. First known use: 1592.