1
a
: morally corrupt : depraved
b
: foreordained to damnation
2
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a reprobate
reprobate conduct
3
: expressing or involving reprobation
4
archaic
: rejected as worthless or not standing a test : condemned
rep·ro·bate
ˈre-prə-ˌbāt 
reprobated; reprobating
1
: to condemn strongly as unworthy, unacceptable, or evil
reprobating the laxity of the age
2
: to refuse to accept : reject
3
: to foreordain to damnation
Did you know?
The original reprobates were hardened sinners who had fallen from God's grace. In time, their name was used outside of religious contexts for any person who behaves in a morally wrong way. In Late Latin, reprobare means "to disapprove" or "to condemn."
Synonyms
Noun
- baddie
- baddy
- beast
- brute
- caitiff
- devil
- evildoer
- fiend
- heavy
- hound
- knave
- meanie
- meany
- miscreant
- monster
- nazi
- no-good
- rapscallion
- rascal
- rogue
- savage
- scalawag
- scallywag
- scamp
- scapegrace
- scoundrel
- varlet
- villain
- wretch
Adjective
- corrupt
- debased
- debauched
- decadent
- degenerate
- degraded
- demoralized
- depraved
- dissipated
- dissolute
- jackleg
- libertine
- loose
- perverse
- perverted
- rakehell
- rakehelly
- rakish
- sick
- unclean
- unwholesome
- warped
Verb
Examples of reprobate in a Sentence
Noun
a program for rehabilitating hard-core reprobates and turning them into hard-working, law-abiding citizens
Adjective
a reprobate judge who could be bribed, and often with astonishing ease
Verb
the board will most likely reprobate the request for parole
without hesitation she reprobated such an indecent idea
Recent Examples on the Web
Armond White, National Review, 19 June 2024
All these years later, all of us remain just as torn about these enormously charismatic reprobates.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 8 Mar. 2024
Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2023
To many of them, killing someone with such a reprobate mind was justifiable by God’s laws.
—Time, 7 Nov. 2022
See all Example Sentences for reprobate 
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Noun
Imagine Millennial filmmakers asserting a new neorealism to examine the intimate, fraternal, and familial relations of those infamous Martin, Brown, and Floyd reprobates.
—Armond White, National Review, 19 June 2024
All these years later, all of us remain just as torn about these enormously charismatic reprobates.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 8 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Logan has just told Frank that, after 35 years of service, he’s being pushed into a secondary role, in part because Logan is considering which of his reprobate children will be taking over his corporate empire.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2023
To many of them, killing someone with such a reprobate mind was justifiable by God’s laws.
—Time, 7 Nov. 2022
See all Example Sentences for reprobate
Dictionary Entries Near reprobate
Cite this Entry
“Reprobate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reprobate. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reprobate
1 of 3 verb
rep·ro·bate
ˈrep-rə-ˌbāt
reprobated; reprobating
: to condemn strongly as unworthy or evil
reprobation
noun
ˌrep-rə-ˈbā-shən
reprobate
3 of 3 noun
: a wicked person
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