abhorrent

adjective

ab·​hor·​rent əb-ˈhȯr-ənt 

-ˈhär-,

ab-

1

: causing or deserving strong dislike or hatred : being so repugnant as to stir up positive antagonism

acts abhorrent to every right-minded person

2

: not agreeable : contrary

a notion abhorrent to their philosophy

3

a

: feeling or showing strong dislike or hatred

b

archaic : strongly opposed

abhorrently adverb

Synonyms

• abominable
• appalling
• awful
• disgusting
• distasteful
• dreadful
• evil
• foul
• fulsome
• gross
• hideous
• horrendous
• horrible
• horrid
• loathsome
• nasty
• nauseating
• nauseous
• noisome
• noxious
• obnoxious
• obscene
• odious
• offensive
• rancid
• repellent
• repellant
• repugnant
• repulsive
• revolting
• scandalous
• shocking
• sickening
• ugly

Examples of abhorrent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The scene was particularly challenging for Hoult, who had to convey with passionate conviction an ideology that is personally abhorrent to him. —Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024

This is the latest abhorrent act in the regime’s long history of transnational repression and accelerating rate of executions. —Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, 28 Oct. 2024

Trying to weasel things by providing additional levels is abhorrent. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024

The alternative is a future too abhorrent for even the most dystopian imaginations at WIRED to contemplate. —Katie Drummond, WIRED, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin abhorrent-, abhorrens, present participle of abhorrēre "to abhor"

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 3b

Kids Definition

abhorrent

adjective

ab·​hor·​rent əb-ˈhȯr-ənt 

-ˈhär-,

ab-

1

: causing or deserving strong dislike

2

: not agreeable : contrary

a notion abhorrent to their beliefs

abhorrently adverb