execrate

verb

ex·​e·​crate ˈek-sə-ˌkrāt 

execrated; execrating

transitive verb

1

: to declare to be evil or detestable : denounce

2

: to detest utterly

execrative

ˈek-sə-ˌkrā-tiv 

adjective

execrator

ˈek-sə-ˌkrā-tər 

noun

Did you know?

To Latinists, there's nothing cryptic about the origins of execrate-the word derives from exsecratus, the past participle of the Latin verb exsecrari, meaning "to put under a curse." Exsecrari was itself created by combining the prefix ex- ("not") and the word sacer ("sacred"). Sacer is also an ancestor of such English words as sacerdotal ("relating to priests"), sacral ("holy or sacred"), sacrifice, sacrilege, and of course sacred itself. There's also execration, which, true to its exsecrari roots, means "the act of cursing" or "the curse so uttered."

Synonyms

• anathematize
• censure
• condemn
• damn
• decry
• denounce
• reprehend
• reprobate

Examples of execrate in a Sentence

She came to execrate the hypocritical values of her upper-class upbringing.

leaders from around the world execrated the terrorists responsible for the bomb blast

Recent Examples on the Web

Many Democrats striving to replace Donald Trump are, while execrating him, paying him the sincerest form of flattery: imitation. —George Will, Twin Cities, 7 July 2019

Word History

Etymology

Latin exsecratus, past participle of exsecrari to put under a curse, from ex + sacr-, sacer sacred

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

execrate

verb

ex·​e·​crate ˈek-sə-ˌkrāt 

execrated; execrating

1

: to declare to be evil

2

: to dislike very strongly : abhor

execration

ˌek-sə-ˈkrā-shən

noun