a despicable character

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a despicable character" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is morally reprehensible or deserving of contempt. Example: "In the novel, the antagonist is portrayed as a despicable character who manipulates others for personal gain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

In "Bram and Alice," which has its premiere tomorrow night on CBS, Mr. Molina plays a despicable character who might be fun to hate.

The New York Times - Arts

Renner has an important role in the film as Bobby Sharp, a mine worker who targets female staff members and whom Renner considers "kind of a despicable character".

The Guardian - Film

While it's quite a tragic story, and Bruce is quite a despicable character, what you get with someone like James is the audience going into the cinema already liking him, already feeling a degree of warmth".

The Guardian - Film

This accomplished performance, the first Oscar-worthy Besthector of the year, begs the question, can an Academy Award go to a portrait of a despicable character?

Huffington Post

And by the time Blagojevich was sentenced in 2011 (he began serving his sentence almost exactly four years ago), he had become a despicable character.

Huffington Post

In the holiday story, "A Christmas Carol," Scrooge opines that the poverty-stricken ought to simply die and "decrease the surplus population". What a despicable character, but by the end he repents and redeems himself.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The crowd grew respectfully silent, except for a few outbursts of pure joy whenever a particularly despicable character met a perfectly justified end.

Vice

Moore's is a pretty despicable character in a caustic vision of Tinseltown that is sure to strike a chord with many of this year's festival attendees.

BBC

As a young child, Bailey admired his brother, but by the time they were both in their teens, he comes to see him as "a pretty despicable character".

The New Yorker

"I felt very proud of my work, but it ended up being such a scurrilous, despicable character that people didn't want to know from me.

Los Angeles Times

Kirshner said it is very hard for people in the series and the viewers to like Jenny because she is "a very despicable character who lies, cheats, behaves and treats other people horribly for no reason, and is extremely selfish, self-indulgent and so terribly truthful... and she does not hesitate to hide any it".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a despicable character", ensure that the context clearly establishes the reasons for the character's reprehensible nature. This provides the reader with a comprehensive understanding of the character's moral failings.

Common error

Avoid using "a despicable character" repeatedly in the same text. Vary your descriptions with synonyms like "a contemptible figure" or "a morally bankrupt individual" to maintain reader engagement and avoid monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a despicable character" functions as a descriptive noun phrase. The adjective "despicable" modifies the noun "character", indicating a person with morally reprehensible qualities. As seen in Ludwig, this phrase is generally used to negatively portray individuals in literature, news, and other forms of media.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a despicable character" is a grammatically correct and usable English expression to describe someone morally reprehensible. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and applicability in various contexts. While not exceedingly common, the phrase finds its primary use in News & Media. Alternatives include "a contemptible figure" and "a vile individual", offering similar connotations. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clarifies the reasons behind the character's reprehensible nature. While the phrase is useful, avoid overuse by varying descriptions with synonyms. According to Ludwig, the phrase is generally used to negatively portray individuals in literature, news, and other forms of media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a contemptible figure

This alternative uses "contemptible" instead of "despicable", suggesting a character worthy of scorn.

a vile individual

This alternative uses "vile" instead of "despicable", emphasizing the repulsive nature of the character.

an abhorrent person

This alternative uses "abhorrent" instead of "despicable", highlighting the character's capacity to inspire disgust.

a morally bankrupt character

This alternative specifies the lack of moral integrity, implying a deep flaw in the character's ethics.

a reprehensible individual

This alternative uses "reprehensible", indicating the character deserves strong condemnation.

a loathsome person

This alternative uses "loathsome", signifying that the character inspires hatred and disgust.

a wretched soul

This alternative uses "wretched" instead of "despicable", suggesting the character is miserable and contemptible.

an odious character

This alternative uses "odious", highlighting the character's repulsiveness.

a nasty piece of work

This alternative is an idiom that suggests the character is unpleasant and malicious.

a scoundrel

This alternative replaces "despicable character" with a single noun, indicating a dishonest and unscrupulous person.

FAQs

How can I use "a despicable character" in a sentence?

You can use "a despicable character" to describe someone morally reprehensible, as in, "The novel's antagonist is "a despicable character" who manipulates everyone around them."

What are some alternatives to "a despicable character"?

Alternatives include "a contemptible figure", "a vile individual", or "an abhorrent person", each carrying slightly different connotations of moral reprehensibility.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a despicable character"?

Yes, "a despicable character" is grammatically correct. "Despicable" is an adjective modifying the noun "character", and the article "a" is used appropriately for a singular, countable noun.

What is the difference between "a despicable character" and "a flawed character"?

"A despicable character" is inherently morally reprehensible, while "a flawed character" simply has weaknesses or imperfections that make them more relatable, but not necessarily evil.