Synonyms of detest

detest

verb

di-ˈtest 

as in to hate

to dislike strongly

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hate
• despise
• loathe
• abhor
• abominate
• disdain
• execrate
• have it in for
• disapprove (of)
• deplore
• scorn
• deprecate
• discountenance
• disfavor

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• love
• like
• prefer
• desire
• enjoy
• favor
• relish
• fancy
• admire
• approve (of)
• adore
• worship
• revere
• cherish
• treasure
• esteem
• prize
• idolize
• venerate
• hallow

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb detest contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of detest are abhor, abominate, hate, and loathe. While all these words mean "to feel strong aversion or intense dislike for," detest suggests violent antipathy.

detests cowards

When is abhor a more appropriate choice than detest?

The words abhor and detest are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, abhor implies a deep often shuddering repugnance.

a crime abhorred by all

When might abominate be a better fit than detest?

The synonyms abominate and detest are sometimes interchangeable, but abominate suggests strong detestation and often moral condemnation.

abominates all forms of violence

In what contexts can hate take the place of detest?

While in some cases nearly identical to detest, hate implies an emotional aversion often coupled with enmity or malice.

hated the enemy with a passion

Where would loathe be a reasonable alternative to detest?

In some situations, the words loathe and detest are roughly equivalent. However, loathe implies utter disgust and intolerance.

loathed the mere sight of them

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of detest

It was loved by the students attending — and resoundingly detested by the judges. —Jim Farmer, AJC.com, 6 Feb. 2026

Kids and parents alike detest remote learning, but teachers aren’t fond of it, either. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026

The current mayor, Tom Koch, a fellow townie hack of Meatball’s, is almost as detested across the board as Morrissey. —Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 14 Jan. 2026

Although many workers detest checking their inboxes—often flooded with mundane inquiries and spam emails—some executives go straight to their unreads each morning. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 2 Jan. 2026