detestable

adjective

de·​test·​able di-ˈte-stə-bəl 

dē-

: arousing or meriting intense dislike : abominable

detestableness noun

detestably

di-ˈte-stə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• base
• contemptible
• currish
• despicable
• dirty
• dishonorable
• execrable
• ignoble
• ignominious
• low
• low-down
• low-minded
• mean
• nasty
• paltry
• snide
• sordid
• vile
• wretched

Examples of detestable in a Sentence

He is a detestable villain.

the detestable actions of a nasty little man

Recent Examples on the Web

What’s more, a loss at Hell in a Cell could also force McIntyre to become an even more detestable heel in the weeks and months ahead. —Blake Oestriecher, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024

As if being Jewish had become something really murky, vaguely suspect, possibly detestable. —Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 7 Aug. 2024

For a Black girl living during one of the worst periods of race relations in America, these were the detestable but sadly predictable terms of engagement. —Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2024

The quiet yet profound orangutan Maurice is as lovable as Koba, the villainous ape who betrays his fellow simians, is detestable, and Serkis’s Caesar stands as the film’s MVP. —Barry Levitt, Vulture, 10 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

detestable

adjective

de·​test·​able di-ˈtes-tə-bəl 

: arousing or deserving strong dislike : abominable