Definition of DETEST

Choose the Right Synonym for detest

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

Examples of detest in a Sentence

I detest pepperoni, and wouldn't eat it if you paid me!

Recent Examples on the Web With the arrival of Porgs, those who have long hated the Ewoks found new acolytes, training their Padawans in the ways of detesting all Star Wars things cute and cuddly. — Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, "In defense of Star Wars' cuddliest creatures… or why you should show Porgs and Ewoks more love," 28 Nov. 2019 The proponents of Prop CC, like everyone in the TABOR-bashing industrial complex, detest the voter consent guaranteed by TABOR, and seem oblivious to why taxpayers demand consent. — Jon Caldara, The Denver Post, "Caldara: Prop CC’s defeat offers ray of hope for Colorado conservatives," 8 Nov. 2019 For example, many residents of the Mojave desert in eastern California detest large-scale industrial solar power but embrace small-scale residential solar. — Jennifer M. Bernstein, The Conversation, "Why ‘acting locally’ is impossible in an interconnected world," 28 Oct. 2019 To the left of the guest house is a pair of columnar eastern white pines that, like the Katsuras, seem not to mind the very same conditions the birch detest. — Bonnie Blodgett, Twin Cities, "Bonnie Blodgett: What a summer: A salmon-colored rose reappears, the Japanese beetles disappear," 12 Oct. 2019 Their opposition also arose in part from the prevailing attitude of the agricultural South and of farmers, who tend to be debtors and often detest banks. — Justin Lahart, WSJ, "Hating the Fed Is as American as Apple Pie," 21 June 2019 Rather, voters who detest Mr Johnson seem more inclined to jump to Mr Corbyn, and vice versa. — The Economist, "Britain’s Lib Dems unveil a manifesto to counter their polling squeeze," 21 Nov. 2019 The demonstrations have increasingly ended in violence between hardcore demonstrators and police, who are now widely detested even by more moderate protesters for their riot-control methods and nearly 2,600 arrests. — John Leicester, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Hong Kong’s leader: Territory not becoming a police state," 15 Oct. 2019 Soumaré actually detests being the centre of attention. — SI.com, "Boubakary Soumaré: 7 Things to Know About the Lille Star Linked With Manchester United," 29 Oct. 2019

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