abhorrent

adjective

ab·​hor·​rent əb-ˈhȯr-ənt How to pronounce abhorrent (audio)
-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

Examples of abhorrent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
During a lecture on Holocaust denial and distortion, there was unanimous agreement that such behavior was abhorrent. Sarah Meira Schlager, Sun Sentinel, 2 July 2025 Detective Hwang Jun-ho’s (Wi Ha-jun) procedural-like quest to follow Gi-hun back to the island, in hopes of shutting down the abhorrent competition and confronting his brother the Front Man, dominated the first two episodes; once the games began, Jun-ho and his crew mostly drifted around, lost. Judy Berman, Time, 27 June 2025 Like Humbert Humbert in Nabokov’s Lolita, which Oates’ protagonist references and dismisses frequently, Fox’s story is inescapably abhorrent yet enthralling. Book Marks june 26, Literary Hub, 26 June 2025 This is not about Western countries being against Iran’s Jurassic theocracy for imprisoning women for failing to cover their heads with a hijab, or for executing gays, or any of its other abhorrent internal policies. Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 22 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for abhorrent

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of abhorrent was in 1599

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Cite this Entry

“Abhorrent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abhorrent. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

abhorrent

adjective
ab·​hor·​rent əb-ˈhȯr-ənt How to pronounce abhorrent (audio)
-ˈhär-,
ab-
1
: causing or deserving strong dislike
2
: not agreeable : contrary
a notion abhorrent to their beliefs
abhorrently adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on abhorrent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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