abhorrent

adjective

ab·hor·rent | \ əb-ˈhȯr-ənt

, -ˈhär-, ab- \

Definition of abhorrent

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

3a : feeling or showing strong dislike or hatred

b archaic : strongly opposed

Other Words from abhorrent Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About abhorrent

Examples of abhorrent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Historian Nigel Rothfels traces the human relationship with elephants from prehistoric days to the present, writing with compassion for the mighty mammals and condemnation for our abhorrent treatment of them. — Amy Brady, Scientific American, 19 Nov. 2021 The history of science is no less marked than other fields of learning by abhorrent chapters of suppression and prejudice. — New York Times, 20 Oct. 2021 An example of how people in power cover up for abhorrent behavior. — BostonGlobe.com, 2 Oct. 2021 Valerie Reyes, the victim of this crime, was in the prime of her life when it was senselessly ended by Da Silva's abhorrent act. — Katie Campione, PEOPLE.com, 23 Sep. 2021 This abhorrent act of violence was far from random -- Pardis was one of the thousands of Afghan interpreters and allies who served alongside US personnel during two decades of war in Afghanistan. — Krish O'mara Vignarajah, CNN, 28 July 2021 The fourth quarter of Game 4 will go down as one of the most heinous and abhorrent offensive displays of the modern basketball era. — Shane Young, Forbes, 27 June 2021 Any deaths at all are naturally abhorrent, but the emphasis at least is that there will be many fewer by far. — Lance Eliot, Forbes, 28 June 2021 The tweet was misconstrued by many as an endorsement of the equally abhorrent Far-Right. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2021

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