abhor

verb

ab·hor | \ əb-ˈhȯr

, ab-\

abhorred; abhorring

Definition of abhor

: to regard with extreme repugnance : to feel hatred or loathing for : loathe abhorred violence

Other Words from abhor Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym The Horror in Abhor More Example Sentences Learn More about abhor

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Synonyms & Antonyms for abhor

Synonyms

abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe

Antonyms

love

Choose the Right Synonym for abhor

hate, detest, abhor, abominate, loathe mean to feel strong aversion or intense dislike for. hate implies an emotional aversion often coupled with enmity or malice. hated the enemy with a passion detest suggests violent antipathy. detests cowards abhor implies a deep often shuddering repugnance. a crime abhorred by all abominate suggests strong detestation and often moral condemnation. abominates all forms of violence loathe implies utter disgust and intolerance. loathed the mere sight of them

The Horror in Abhor

Abhor means “to loathe” or “to hate,” and while loathe and hate have roots in Old English, abhor derives from Latin. The roots of abhor can give us a deeper understanding of both the strength of the dislike expressed by the word and its relationship to other words in English. It came from the Latin word abhorrēre, which meant “to recoil from” or “to be repugnant to,” and was formed by combining ab-, meaning “from” and horrēre, meaning “to bristle,” “to tremble,” or “to shudder.” This word for trembling or shuddering in reaction to something scary or awful is related to the word that names of the cause of those reactions—the Latin word horror, which was later borrowed into English. The -hor of abhor is also the hor- of horror.

Examples of abhor in a Sentence

We believe we know that Americans abhor extremes and mistrust ideology. — David Frum, Atlantic, March 1995 I abhor latter-day, modishly camp take-offs of my cherished boyhood heroes and heroines (Little Orphan Annie, Wonder Woman, Invisible Scarlet O'Neil). — Mordecai Richler, New York Times Book Review, 3 May 1987 He abhorred grandiosity. When he came to New York to revise his manuscripts and galley proofs, he would hole up in a little cubicle on the attic floor of the old 52nd Street mansion that went by the name of Random House. — Norman Cousins, Saturday Review, April 1981 abhors the way people leave their trash at the picnic sites in the park

Recent Examples on the Web

Polls show, however, that most Americans abhor his tendency to quarrel. — David Lauter, latimes.com, "On abortion, Joe Biden decides it’s better to switch than fight," 7 June 2019 Players helping players Nature abhors a vacuum and so did EQ players. — Andy Patrizio, Ars Technica, "EverQuest’s long, strange 20-year trip still has no end in sight," 6 June 2019 Ahmed, a Muslim, abhors the brutality that ISIS practices in the name of religion. — Fox News, "Clinic rescues hearts, and minds, of young Yazidis abused by ISIS," 21 June 2018 Rental owners abhor renters’ sometimes destructive tendencies and business owners love the extra cash. — Aubrey Nagle, Philly.com, "Protesters rally in Rittenhouse Square, Senior Week puts the 'wild' in Wildwood | Morning Newsletter," 20 June 2018 Witness officials previously declined to discuss the Haugh case, and instead issued a statement that noted the organization abhors child abuse. — David Gambacorta, Philly.com, "Suspect in Jehovah's Witness child sex abuse case arrested," 24 May 2018 But nature abhors a vacuum, so talent will always fill in. — Tom Perrotta, WSJ, "A Last Stand for the Golden Age of Men’s Tennis," 24 May 2018 Jobs initially abhorred the idea of allowing software developers to write programs for the phone. — Aaron Pressman, Fortune, "Data Sheet—Celebrating Apple's Lucrative Switcheroo," 11 July 2018 The Europeans abhor Trump’s decision to impose steel and aluminum tariffs on a part of the world that is supposed to be the United States’ partner. — Washington Post, "Friend or foe at NATO? Who knows when Trump comes to dinner," 10 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'abhor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.