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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detestation
How Nelson is reformulated from one who feels desire to one who feels detestation (as well as shame for having desired) is the remarkable achievement of both the story and the storyteller and the system that requires it.
—
Literary Hub, 3 Feb. 2026
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
Literary Hub, 3 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detestation
Noun
-
The Soros’ announcement did not say how the foundations will define antisemitism — a point of contention on college campuses and in state legislatures where debates have raged over whether criticism of Israel amounts to hatred of Jewish people.—
James Pollard,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
-
The movie thus offers a complaint about the end results of Putinism, not about the ideas—the emotions, the enthusiasms, the resentments, the hatreds—that brought it about.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Squad and platoon leaders can quickly launch drones to scout terrain, identify enemy positions and adjust movements without waiting for external support.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
10 May 2026
-
The nation’s capital is crawling with right-wing enemies of Social Security who would like nothing more.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 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
-
The difference is Netflix had, at best, an antipathy towards the theatrical experience.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The president’s antipathy for Mueller was on full display throughout the course of the Russia investigation, with Mueller – whose tenure as FBI director ended well before Trump took office – brought out of retirement by Trump’s own Justice Department to serve as special counsel.—
Josh Campbell,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Really, if people have this hate for the character, that's fine.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
The vandals sprayed their hate messages with black and red spray paint.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Tom Steyer is running for California governor on an affordability agenda, testing voters’ willingness to set aside their aversion to billionaires.—
Praveena Somasundaram,
Washington Post,
12 May 2026
-
Congress has repeatedly demonstrated an aversion to pulling the plug on conflicts initiated without congressional approval or even consultation.—
James Cramer,
Baltimore Sun,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Festivalgoers should expect petition endeavors aimed at mellowing out Idaho’s legal phobia about marijuana.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
16 Apr. 2026
-
His father has many food phobias and drug issues.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Civic spending in all but eight states testifies to the fact that the Lost Cause fantasy was not an aberration or an abomination, but the reality across the country.—
Horace D. Ballard,
Artforum,
22 Apr. 2026
-
While people sometimes express this view in jest, others believe the fake environment borders on a cultural abomination.—
Adam Kadlac,
The Conversation,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detestation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detestation. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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