abhorrence

noun

ab·hor·rence | \ əb-ˈhȯr-ən(t)s

How to pronounce abhorrence (audio)

, -ˈhär-\

Definition of abhorrence

1a : the act or state of abhorring or despising something or someone a crime regarded with abhorrence

b : a feeling of strong repugnance or disgust : loathing an abhorrence of war

2 : something regarded as repugnant or disgusting Slavery is an abhorrence.

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Examples of abhorrence in a Sentence

one of the changes in American society that remains a particular abhorrence of social conservatives my firm abhorrence of all forms of hypocrisy

Recent Examples on the Web

For instance, the Satanists' focus on fairness and social justice and their abhorrence to religious hypocrisy has resulted in them taking up several First Amendment cases—and sometimes winning. — Cady Drell, Marie Claire, "The Best Documentaries of 2019 That Are Already Changing Everything," 20 Mar. 2019 The reality is that few members of Congress will align themselves with a statement bereft of asserting America’s abhorrence for the murder of political opponents. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Trump’s Crude Realpolitik," 20 Nov. 2018 What is Beaux-Arts but the abhorrence of undecorated surfaces, right? — Douglas Brenner, House Beautiful, "Designer Annie Brahler on Decorating a Landmark Victorian," 1 Apr. 2012 The newspapers have issued special editions with black borders, expressing abhorrence of the crime. — sandiegouniontribune.com, "June 29, 1914: Student assassinates Austrian heir," 29 June 2018 Because of their disorder, the subjects seem paralyzed by a fascination with and abhorrence of their sheer physicality. — Peter Keough, BostonGlobe.com, "An unflinching look at ‘The Pain of Others’," 28 June 2018 Even before Monday's passage, commissioner Rob Manfred had acknowledged a softening of baseball's hardline abhorrence of gambling. — Chandler Rome, Houston Chronicle, "Major League Baseball re-examining its stance on gambling," 14 May 2018 For all their skepticism of Trump, many Europeans have been are brought together by an unequivocal abhorrence of the use of chemical weapons in war, since they were first used on a massive scale in World War I in Europe a century ago. — Washington Post, "European allies France, UK gamble, join Trump against Syria," 14 Apr. 2018 Morell was a career CIA officer, imbued with the agency’s trademark abhorrence of anyone who leaks secrets. — Fred Kaplan, Slate Magazine, "The Chelsea Manning and Michelle Jones debacles reveal the university’s poor judgment.," 15 Sep. 2017

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

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Last Updated

23 Mar 2019

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The first known use of abhorrence was in 1592

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