odious

odi·ous

adj \ˈō-dē-əs\

Definition of ODIOUS

: arousing or deserving hatred or repugnance : hateful <an odious crime> <a false and odious comparison>

— odi·ous·ly adverb

— odi·ous·ness noun

Examples of ODIOUS

1. It was one of the most odious crimes of recent history.
2. <an odious and unforgivable insult>
3. Two of them—his mother Livia and his odious sister Janice—were at heart killers like himself. —Geoffrey O'Brien, New York Review of Books, 16 Aug. 2007
4. He learned an important lesson some years ago in Panama. Manuel Antonio Noriega was too odious even for Carter, who shunned the Panamanian strongman in the run-up to the 1989 ballot there. —Jim Wooten, New York Times Magazine, 29 Jan 1995
5. But, alas, I know the real me, the me with the soft, round stomach and the love handles, odious first cousins to the paunch. —Jack McCallum, Sports Illustrated, 30 July 1990

Origin of ODIOUS

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin odiosus, from odium (see odium)

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ODIOUS

Synonyms: abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, disgusting, distasteful, dreadful, evil, foul, fulsome, gross, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, loathsome, nasty, nauseating, nauseous, noisome, noxious, obnoxious, obscene, offensive, rancid, repellent (also repellant), repugnant, repulsive, revolting, scandalous, shocking, sickening, ugly

Antonyms: innocuous, inoffensive

Related Words: exceptionable, objectionable; brackish, disagreeable, dislikable (also dislikeable), unpleasant; contemptible, despicable, detestable, hard, hateful; unhealthy, unsavory, unwholesome; execrable, lousy, miserable; atrocious, frightful, ghastly, grim, grisly, gruesome (also grewsome), heinous, horrendous, horrific, horrifying, lurid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish, shocking, sick, sickish, sickly, terrible, unspeakable, vile; off-putting, undesirable, unwanted, unwelcome; barbarous, unchristian, uncivilized, ungodly, unholy; distressing, disturbing, upsetting

Near Antonyms: acceptable, agreeable, alluring, appealing, attractive, blessed (also blest), congenial, darling, delectable, delicious, delightful, delightsome, desirable, dreamy, dulcet, enjoyable, felicitous, gratifying, heavenly, inviting, likable (or likeable), luscious, nice, palatable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, savory (also savoury), sweet, welcome; unexceptionable, unobjectionable; healthful, healthy, restorative, salubrious, salutary, wholesome

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