despicable practice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despicable practice" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or behavior that is considered morally reprehensible or contemptible. Example: "The company was criticized for its despicable practice of exploiting workers in developing countries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

The despicable practice of child marriage threatened to resurge.

The New York Times

Nuccitelli falsely accuses me of journal shopping, a despicable practice.

The Guardian

The same is true of our bill to outlaw the despicable practice of modern slavery.

The Guardian - Opinion

That despicable practice is now rightly condemned, as far as human beings are concerned, but the enslavement of other species continues, in many areas of human life, and the use of slaves in war continues in the United States Navy.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the meantime, our hope is that by helping to address requests and to remove these extremely personal photos and videos from our services, we can better support victims as they work to re-claim their privacy, and help to push just a little further in the fight against this despicable practice.

TechCrunch

His death shed light on the despicable practice of trophy hunting.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

But May, whose group, Save Me, founded in 2010, campaigns for the protection of animals against cruel treatment, said: "Just as justice had to be fought for in the case of the abolition of slavery, the emancipation of women, and the outlawing of all kinds of despicable practices justified by tradition and ignorance, the rights of all sentient creatures to decent treatment have to be fought for".

The Guardian

This is just one of many despicable practices often used by trophy hunters.

Huffington Post

Human trafficking entails a variety of despicable practices that deprive children of both their innocence and their dignity: involuntary servitude, debt bondage, forced soldiering, organ trafficking, and sex trafficking.

Huffington Post

To choose just one minor offense: Under Bush/Cheney, credit card companies routinely gouged consumers with what can only be called despicable business practices, while regulators did nothing.

Huffington Post

With the exception of Moses, the bobcat, all of the animals at the sanctuary were born and raised in captivity, do not have the skills to survive in the wild and, as a result of despicable breeding practices, are plagued with illness and other issues.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, consider replacing "practice" with a more specific noun that accurately reflects the action, such as "behavior", "conduct", or "scheme".

Common error

Avoid using "despicable practice" as a mere emotional reaction. Instead, ground your judgment in well-reasoned ethical or moral principles to ensure your criticism is persuasive and credible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despicable practice" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "despicable" modifies the noun "practice". It's typically used to express strong disapproval or condemnation of a specific action or behavior. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically correct and appears in various contexts to denote something morally reprehensible.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despicable practice" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express strong disapproval of a particular action or behavior. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides multiple real-world examples. While the word “despicable” expresses strong emotion, the phrase is commonly found in news and media outlets where it is used to highlight ethical concerns. The phrase's effectiveness lies in its ability to clearly and concisely convey a negative judgment. When using the phrase, ensure that the context clarifies the basis for your condemnation. Alternatives such as "reprehensible conduct" or "outrageous action" may be suitable depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reprehensible conduct

Substitutes 'despicable' with 'reprehensible' and 'practice' with 'conduct', both indicating strong disapproval.

deplorable method

Focuses on the negative and regrettable nature of the procedure or approach.

abhorrent behavior

Replaces 'practice' with 'behavior', focusing on the action rather than the established method.

disgraceful activity

Emphasizes the shamefulness of the activity.

offensive procedure

Stresses the causing of insult or hurt feelings through the procedure.

outrageous action

Replaces the adjective and noun with words emphasizing the shocking nature of the act.

atrocious habit

Highlights a very cruel or unpleasant pattern of behavior.

heinous act

Highlights the wickedness and severity of the action.

unconscionable deed

Stresses the lack of conscience involved in the action.

shameful scheme

Specifically implies a plan or plot that is worthy of shame.

FAQs

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

You can use "despicable practice" to condemn actions you find morally wrong. For instance, "The company's use of child labor is a "despicable practice" that must be stopped."

What are some alternatives to "despicable practice"?

Alternatives include "reprehensible conduct", "outrageous action", or "disgraceful activity" depending on the context.

Is "despicable practice" formal or informal?

"Despicable practice" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's generally more common in news or opinion pieces where a strong moral judgment is being expressed.

What makes a practice "despicable"?

A practice is considered "despicable" when it is so morally wrong or offensive that it deserves strong condemnation and disgust. It suggests a deep violation of ethical principles.