Existing society he knew to be in a deplorable state.

The work is in a deplorable state of decay.

Hugo noticed the vegetable garden was in a deplorable state.

The small utility deck beneath the lounge was in a similar deplorable state.

This leaves the world's children in a deplorable state.

Wherever it was, she attracted his attention by her deplorable state.

His crew was in a deplorable state of nerves when they arrived there.

I would ask you to finally put a stop to this deplorable state of affairs.

But it would be hard for anyone to argue things were not in a deplorable state.

That was evident in such things as the deplorable state of the station.