abhorrent

adjective

ab·​hor·​rent əb-ˈhȯr-ənt 

-ˈhär-,

ab-

1

: causing or deserving strong dislike or hatred : being so repugnant as to stir up positive antagonism

acts abhorrent to every right-minded person

2

: not agreeable : contrary

a notion abhorrent to their philosophy

3

a

: feeling or showing strong dislike or hatred

b

archaic : strongly opposed

abhorrently adverb

Synonyms

• abominable
• appalling
• awful
• disgusting
• distasteful
• dreadful
• evil
• foul
• fulsome
• gross
• hideous
• horrendous
• horrible
• horrid
• loathsome
• nasty
• nauseating
• nauseous
• noisome
• noxious
• obnoxious
• obscene
• odious
• offensive
• rancid
• repellent
• repellant
• repugnant
• repulsive
• revolting
• scandalous
• shocking
• sickening
• ugly

Examples of abhorrent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the aftermath, sober pundits and politicians have said there is no place in democracy for violence, but that cannot become a platitude, lost in the frenzy of another abhorrent episode. —Jennifer Rubin, Washington Post, 15 July 2024

Political violence is abhorrent and has absolutely no place in this country. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 14 July 2024

True crime is abhorrent to me and almost worse than that is people pretending to do true crime. —Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 13 July 2024

The resulting onslaught by Israel in turn threatens to create more such abhorrent violence in the future, and also to further isolate Israel from the regional partners on which its long-term security depends. —Mohammad Shtayyeh, Foreign Affairs, 4 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin abhorrent-, abhorrens, present participle of abhorrēre "to abhor"

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 3b

Kids Definition

abhorrent

adjective

ab·​hor·​rent əb-ˈhȯr-ənt 

-ˈhär-,

ab-

1

: causing or deserving strong dislike

2

: not agreeable : contrary

a notion abhorrent to their beliefs

abhorrently adverb