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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
-
The Republican Party has nothing positive to say about any person, place or thing that Trump disparages in his rants of hatred.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
6 Aug. 2025
-
However, Kelly’s hatred towards Beyoncé is well-documented and the singer’s fans have noticed.—
Mya Abraham,
VIBE.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Citizens are trained to report anyone who might be an enemy of the regime, including family members.—
Paul Tilsley,
FOXNews.com,
17 Aug. 2025
-
Our theme this year was the enemy within for the writers’ room.—
Giana Levy,
Variety,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Holly hits the road with the activist and brings along a gun, despite her deep need to be near her home and her abhorrence of weapons.—
Maren Longbella,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2025
-
The reactions from right-of-center publications divide into roughly four camps, aligning on a spectrum ranging from vocal approval to outright abhorrence.—
Zack Beauchamp,
Vox,
7 Dec. 2018
Noun
-
Heritage and its founder Edwin Feulner are the antipathy of conservativism.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Aug. 2025
-
But vaccine mandates during the pandemic sowed fierce antipathy towards the technology, leading to widespread public opposition.—
Rob Stein,
NPR,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
But even if haters are gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, Swift definitely has two football lovers who are pumped up to see her on New Heights: Travis and Jason.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Those people generally seem to feel the need to continue their hate year over year, no matter the improvements, because hate sells more than love or even contentment.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Despite dealing with the snake in next to no time, Zachary understood the impact his doorbell camera footage would have on anyone with a phobia of snakes.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 July 2025
-
In the comments section, many Reddit users expressed that the dad was in the wrong because his girlfriend wasn’t just anyone, and she should've been told about his daughter's water phobia.—
Stephanie Guerilus,
People.com,
24 May 2025
Noun
-
Spicer, for his part, acknowledged the backlash from residents but characterized it as an ordinary aversion to change.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 July 2025
-
The idea was in part rooted in an aversion to retelling the quartet’s origin story, which had been depicted in previous films.—
Adam B. Vary,
Variety,
16 July 2025
Noun
-
This wasteful Everglades abomination surely is one of our worst.—
Elise Bennett,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Aug. 2025
-
As the world rightly remains focused on the bloody battlefields of Ukraine and the humanitarian abomination that is Gaza, South Korea’s new president is trying to shake up the status quo on the Korean Peninsula, one of the most militarized regions on the planet.—
Daniel DePetris,
Twin Cities,
31 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detestation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detestation. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share