abhorrent

adjective

ab·​hor·​rent əb-ˈhȯr-ənt How to pronounce abhorrent (audio)
-ˈhär-,
ab-
1
: causing or deserving strong dislike or hatred : being so repugnant as to stir up positive antagonism
acts abhorrent to every right-minded person
2
: not agreeable : contrary
a notion abhorrent to their philosophy
3
a
: feeling or showing strong dislike or hatred
b
archaic : strongly opposed
abhorrently adverb

Examples of abhorrent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The whole idea of reparations to Black Americans in the form of cash is abhorrent to voters. Letters To The Editor, Orange County Register, 16 Apr. 2024 Arab leaders’ discomfort only increased with the Israeli assault in Gaza, which the United States defended but their own citizens found abhorrent, said Renad Mansour, a senior research fellow at Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa program. Vivian Nereim, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024 Some of its methods are abhorrent: people have executed gang members and even burned them alive. Pierre Esperance, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2024 Hamas—the group responsible for the abhorrent October 7 attack—must not interfere with the relief effort, either. Hardin Lang, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2024 The idea of being that vulnerable with her after what happened is abhorrent to me. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 The idea of the government deciding to privilege one industry over another should already be abhorrent to free market Republicans on principle. TIME, 6 Feb. 2024 Without a floor general on the court, Minnesota’s decision-making and execution waned to new lows, creating a volatile range of basketball that spanned from elite to abhorrent. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 11 Feb. 2024 This is such a fallacious argument and its presentation as acceptable is abhorrent to our standards of morality. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abhorrent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin abhorrent-, abhorrens, present participle of abhorrēre "to abhor"

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 3b

Time Traveler
The first known use of abhorrent was in 1599

Dictionary Entries Near abhorrent

Cite this Entry

“Abhorrent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abhorrent. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

abhorrent

adjective
ab·​hor·​rent əb-ˈhȯr-ənt How to pronounce abhorrent (audio)
-ˈhär-,
ab-
1
: causing or deserving strong dislike
2
: not agreeable : contrary
a notion abhorrent to their beliefs
abhorrently adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on abhorrent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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