What does 'reprehensible' indicate about someone's actions?

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Study for the SAT Vocabulary 2025 Test. Master vocabulary with flashcards and questions, each with detailed explanations. Get ready for your exam!

The term 'reprehensible' is used to describe actions that are deserving of blame or punishment, reflecting a strong moral disapproval. When someone's actions are characterized as reprehensible, it suggests that those actions are considered wrong or unacceptable by societal standards. This word conveys a clear condemnation of the behavior, indicating that it violates ethical norms and warrants criticism.

Praising or commending someone's actions, as suggested by the first option, would imply that the behavior is positive or admirable, which directly opposes the meaning of reprehensible. Similarly, labeling actions as morally ambiguous would suggest uncertainty or a gray area in ethics, which does not capture the unequivocal negativity of the term. Lastly, stating that actions are completely justified would imply that they are excused or defensible, again contradicting the inherent negativity of 'reprehensible.' Therefore, the most fitting interpretation of 'reprehensible' is that it indicates deserving of blame or punishment.