1
as in hatred
a very strong dislike
a congenital detestation of injustice, which drove her to become an activist for civil rights
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in enemy
something or someone that is hated
the family's pickiest eater is quite vehement in expressing his feelings about boiled cabbage, a particular detestation of his
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detestation
Between the lines: Many undecideds are painfully trying to balance their sense of obligation with their detestation for Trump, as USA Today first detailed on Thursday.
—
Erin Doherty, Axios, 14 Dec. 2024
One of the most memorable chapters epitomizes her detestation for the ultra-wealthy and pompous intellectuals who rushed to rationalize her work.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 20 Jan. 2024
Media coverage oscillated wildly between sycophantic applause and puritanical scrutiny - celebrities made to traipse an ephemeral, razor thin line between public adoration and detestation.
—Colin Scanlon, Redbook, 4 Aug. 2023
That was the level of detestation and dedication to overturning Roe.
—Tara Kole, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 July 2022
Others balance their detestation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine against other concerns.
—Walter Russell Mead, WSJ, 21 Mar. 2022
Here all the liturgical phrases of the 19th-century religion of progress, which had seemed hollow and platitudinous to a young man growing up in America in detestation of the Sunday supplements, rang true.
—John Dos Passos, National Review, 28 Sep. 2020
Germany has set aside its traditional detestation for debt to unleash emergency spending, while enabling the rest of the European Union to breach limits on deficits.
—Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2020
But how much of a life, free of troubles and self-detestation, can a 15-year-old boy concerned with raising an infant build before his sense of self is devoured?
—Darcel Rockett, chicagotribune.com, 3 Oct. 2019
Erin Doherty, Axios, 14 Dec. 2024
One of the most memorable chapters epitomizes her detestation for the ultra-wealthy and pompous intellectuals who rushed to rationalize her work.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 20 Jan. 2024
Media coverage oscillated wildly between sycophantic applause and puritanical scrutiny - celebrities made to traipse an ephemeral, razor thin line between public adoration and detestation.
—Colin Scanlon, Redbook, 4 Aug. 2023
That was the level of detestation and dedication to overturning Roe.
—Tara Kole, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 July 2022
Others balance their detestation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine against other concerns.
—Walter Russell Mead, WSJ, 21 Mar. 2022
Here all the liturgical phrases of the 19th-century religion of progress, which had seemed hollow and platitudinous to a young man growing up in America in detestation of the Sunday supplements, rang true.
—John Dos Passos, National Review, 28 Sep. 2020
Germany has set aside its traditional detestation for debt to unleash emergency spending, while enabling the rest of the European Union to breach limits on deficits.
—Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2020
But how much of a life, free of troubles and self-detestation, can a 15-year-old boy concerned with raising an infant build before his sense of self is devoured?
—Darcel Rockett, chicagotribune.com, 3 Oct. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detestation
Noun
-
What began as skepticism towards AI has curdled into a palpable AI hatred across the American workforce.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Given their hatred of Indigenous people, Casey and Frank set out to bring them back, a vengeance mission with echoes of The Searchers.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Unlike the win in ‘80 that brought together a nation for an extended period in the face of foreign enemies, now those adversaries are our neighbors, or family members.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Feb. 2026
-
His title was removed for being an enemy of Britain under the 1917 act, which was enacted in 1919, once the war was over.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
These findings echo a broader pattern political scientists call affective polarization: the replacement of disagreement with abhorrence.—
Manvir Singh,
New Yorker,
27 Oct. 2025
-
When human decency and basic civility fall victim to partisanship and ideology, and abhorrence of violence becomes tempered by political aims, monstrosities and tyrannies become possible.—
Michael Bloomberg,
Twin Cities,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Fanning the flames of the drama was the mutual antipathy between the couples.—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The stability in the Wing’s leadership comes as much of the theater industry – in New York and across the country – continues to grapple with the fallout of the Covid pandemic and shutdown, rising production costs and the Trump Administration’s antipathy towards government arts funding.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That is why the spirit of the most racist president in the last 125 years must be remembered so the hate and ignorance can never be repeated.—
Gary Franks,
Hartford Courant,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Armed soldiers patrolled in droves, spreading hate and fear everywhere, blindfolding children, pointing guns, gawking, spitting, laughing at us like animals in the zoo.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Advocates say the latter provides a more impactful solution, and the administration’s aversion to permanent housing shows a stark break from recent tactics to end homelessness.—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The medication also dramatically suppressed activity in the locus coeruleus, an area involved in withdrawal and aversion.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Beyond needle phobia or the physical discomfort of injections, convenience is a key reason people may be interested in switching to the Wegovy pill.—
Sean Hashmi,
EverydayHealth.com,
16 Jan. 2026
-
The circumstances made the role ill-suited to Bennett, and everyone knew that Shawn was beset by phobias.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Yes, the opening animation was an abomination, but what followed was almost — almost — enough to make up for it.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Orthodox Jews viewed the pop-up novelty with its mixed troupes as an abomination, but young female actors and singers embraced the emancipatory promise of the stage.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detestation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detestation. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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