detestation

noun

ˌdē-ˌte-ˈstā-shən How to pronounce detestation (audio)
Definition of detestationnext
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 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 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
  1. hatred
  2. enemy
  3. abhorrence
  4. antipathy
  5. hate
  6. aversion
  7. phobia
  8. abomination
Noun
  • Orlando should be proud of the people who gave those words meaning by refusing to let hatred go unanswered.
    — Linda Chapin, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026
  • The exchange is one of many contentious clashes between those who oppose data centers in their communities, which have earned bipartisan hatred, and those advocating for them.
    — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of hatred
Noun
  • Not among our political enemies, not among our historical heroes, not among our martyrs, not among the incels, and not among the collaborators.
    — Paul Bloom, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026
  • So far, neither the city nor the conservancy seems willing to see speed itself as the enemy, but maybe another fatal crash or two will convince them.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of enemy
Noun
  • El-Sayed and Piker have professed their abhorrence of anti-Semitism.
    — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of abhorrence
Noun
  • The other is that Republicans’ antipathy towards vote-by-mail is waning.
    — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 1 June 2026
  • Alexander Kazakov | Afp | Getty Images That Russia and China are seen as ideologically aligned on many geopolitical issues, with each sharing a traditional antipathy and distrust towards the West, and Washington.
    — Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 20 May 2026
Definition of antipathy
Noun
  • The responsibility assigned to Caitlin Clark The list of WNBA media members who have openly called for Clark to denounce online hate, something Clark has done multiple times by the way, is almost too long to count.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Because at the end of the day, hate will never have the final word.
    — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of hate
Noun
  • Our server was effusive in her congratulations and attention, especially to my husband’s nut aversion.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026
  • While rodents normally avoid cat odors, those infected with the parasite can lose some of that natural aversion and even become attracted to cat odors.
    — Tara Deans, The Conversation, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of aversion
Noun
  • The decision has reignited the conversation about Camilla’s phobia regarding planes.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 29 Oct. 2026
  • But there was already a phobia about speaking Spanish in government settings or schools.
    — Michael Kiefer, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of phobia
Noun
  • What are the implications when much of humanity witnesses the same pyrotechnic abomination at the same time?
    — David Friend, Vanity Fair, 10 Sep. 2026
  • It a thematic fit, and after nearly 200 episodes, there’s no doubting this team’s ability to deliver fresh, new abominations.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of abomination

Browse Nearby Words

detestably
detestation
detestations
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Detestation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detestation. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of cockamamie

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All