abhorrent
adjective
ab·hor·rent əb-ˈhȯr-ənt 
-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
Synonyms
- abominable
- appalling
- awful
- disgusting
- distasteful
- dreadful
- evil
- foul
- fulsome
- gross
- hideous
- horrendous
- horrible
- horrid
- loathsome
- nasty
- nauseating
- nauseous
- noisome
- noxious
- obnoxious
- obscene
- odious
- offensive
- rancid
- repellent
- repellant
- repugnant
- repulsive
- revolting
- scandalous
- shocking
- sickening
- ugly
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web This grotesque greed of the fossil fuel industry and their financiers is punishing the poorest and most vulnerable people, while destroying our only home. United Nations Secretary General António Guterres believes this state of affairs is abhorrent. 
Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2022 This would’ve been the crux of the defense approach: that Melzer had abhorrent views and associations, but was living an online fantasy and didn’t pose an actual threat to his fellow soldiers. Ali Winston, Rolling Stone, 6 July 2022 The 2022 World Cup is in Qatar, where dozens of migrant workers died building stadiums in abhorrent conditions. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 2022 If the photograph of the girl at the center of the controversy was unacceptable, abhorrent, then my own photographs, and the film of Caroline, were the same. Madeleine Watts, Harper’s Magazine , 25 May 2022 When the individual who committed such an abhorrent act is in a position of power or celebrity, the decision to report an assault can become all the more challenging and intimidating. Antonia Debianchi, PEOPLE.com, 10 May 2022 On one side are institutional gatekeepers who favor top-down control of speech on social media, filtering out abhorrent rhetoric and false information that could sway how citizens vote. Stephen Humphries, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 May 2022 The arguments were not about the merit of honoring those whose action supported the abhorrent practice of slavery, the discussion Thursday was about the plain facts of the case. Ben Brasch, ajc, 19 May 2022 But race itself is a social construct, invented by European and early American colonialists and slave traders who needed to justify their abhorrent treatment of Africans and Native Americans. Keith Magee, CNN, 17 May 2022 See More
Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2022 This would’ve been the crux of the defense approach: that Melzer had abhorrent views and associations, but was living an online fantasy and didn’t pose an actual threat to his fellow soldiers. Ali Winston, Rolling Stone, 6 July 2022 The 2022 World Cup is in Qatar, where dozens of migrant workers died building stadiums in abhorrent conditions. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 2022 If the photograph of the girl at the center of the controversy was unacceptable, abhorrent, then my own photographs, and the film of Caroline, were the same. Madeleine Watts, Harper’s Magazine , 25 May 2022 When the individual who committed such an abhorrent act is in a position of power or celebrity, the decision to report an assault can become all the more challenging and intimidating. Antonia Debianchi, PEOPLE.com, 10 May 2022 On one side are institutional gatekeepers who favor top-down control of speech on social media, filtering out abhorrent rhetoric and false information that could sway how citizens vote. Stephen Humphries, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 May 2022 The arguments were not about the merit of honoring those whose action supported the abhorrent practice of slavery, the discussion Thursday was about the plain facts of the case. Ben Brasch, ajc, 19 May 2022 But race itself is a social construct, invented by European and early American colonialists and slave traders who needed to justify their abhorrent treatment of Africans and Native Americans. Keith Magee, CNN, 17 May 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
abhorrent
adjective
ab·hor·rent ab-ˈhȯr-ənt
: causing or deserving strong dislike
an abhorrent crime
abhorrent
adjective
1
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment he considers it abhorrent the way she keeps her dogs penned up all the time Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- disgusting
- awful
- horrible
- sickening
- ugly
- hideous
- shocking
- obscene
- obnoxious
- offensive
- dreadful
- repugnant
- appalling
- abominable
- evil
- nasty
- unpleasant
- loathsome
- repulsive
- odious
- revolting
- distasteful
- horrific
- horrid
- gruesome
- gross
- terrible
- scandalous
- horrendous
- nauseating
- noxious
- repellent
- undesirable
- vile
- disturbing
- nauseous
- foul
- noisome
- hateful
- rancid
- fulsome
- detestable
- objectionable
- despicable
- horrifying
- monstrous
- repellant
- contemptible
- disagreeable
- unwanted
- heinous
- miserable
- atrocious
- unspeakable
- grim
- ghastly
- unhealthy
- execrable
- unwholesome
- exceptionable
- unsavory
- nightmarish
- barbarous
- sick
- grisly
- unwelcome
- uncivilized
- dislikeable
- macabre
- dislikable
- brackish
- upsetting
- frightful
- unholy
- ungodly
- hard
- lurid
- unchristian
- lousy
- sickly
- off-putting
- distressing
- sickish
- grewsome
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- acceptable
- innocuous
- desirable
- attractive
- inoffensive
- delightful
- pleasant
- agreeable
- delicious
- appealing
- alluring
- enjoyable
- sweet
- pleasurable
- welcome
- congenial
- gratifying
- satisfying
- nice
- palatable
- heavenly
- dreamy
- pleasing
- likeable
- delectable
- likable
- unobjectionable
- darling
- blessed
- felicitous
- luscious
- inviting
- savory
- savoury
- unexceptionable
- blest
- dulcet
- wholesome
- healthy
- healthful
- salutary
- salubrious
- restorative
- delightsome
2
as in contemptuous
feeling or showing open dislike for someone or something regarded as undeserving of respect or concern she's abhorrent of the nonsense that the tabloid media pass off as news Synonyms & Similar Words
- contemptuous
- cruel
- disdainful
- arrogant
- malicious
- scornful
- hateful
- disrespectful
- fresh
- cavalier
- discourteous
- nasty
- brazen
- impudent
- insolent
- pretentious
- saucy
- superior
- spiteful
- impertinent
- snobbish
- cheeky
- malignant
- sassy
- supercilious
- uppity
- malevolent
- haughty
- high-handed
- brassy
- cocky
- uppish
- brash
- prideful
- highfalutin
- pompous
- mean
- lofty
- bold-faced
- malign
- sniffish
- hifalutin
- despiteful
- lordly
- high-hat
- self-important
- catty
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- appreciative
- respectful
- accepting
- tolerant
- applauding
- deferential
- approving
- admiring
- courteous
- polite
- regardful