Definition of ABHORRED

Synonyms & Antonyms for abhor

Synonyms

Antonyms

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 Most senior leaders don’t abhor that vacuum at all. — David Benjamin And David Komlos, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2021 It’s the use of a legislative tool to block bills you abhor. — Gilbert Garcia, San Antonio Express-News, 30 June 2021 Sadly the thing is this: Institutions of all sorts abhor risk and work. — Clem Chambers, Forbes, 7 June 2021 North Side business leaders said the hope and opportunity of economic expansion and more jobs in the lowest-income section of the city are also a response of those who abhor gun violence that disproportionately claims Black victims. — Neal St. Anthony, Star Tribune, 6 June 2021 Even those of us who abhor friend-enemy distinctions in politics become little Schmittians when watching sports. — Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 2 June 2021 Every politician and government functionary professes to abhor high inflation. — William Baldwin, Forbes, 12 May 2021 McConnell may abhor Trump's actions, but his hopes of winning back the Senate may hinge on finding a way to accommodate the ex-President's supporters and acolytes in close races in the midterm elections next year. — Stephen Collinson, CNN, 5 May 2021 Solar panels, which abhor the shade of not only trees but also tall buildings. — Matt Simon, Wired, 3 May 2021

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.