abhorrent
Americanadjective
-
causing repugnance; detestable; loathsome.
an abhorrent deed.
- Synonyms:
- abominable, shocking
-
utterly opposed, or contrary, or in conflict (usually followed byto ).
abhorrent to reason.
-
feeling extreme repugnance or aversion (usually followed byof ).
abhorrent of waste.
-
remote in character (usually followed byfrom ).
abhorrent from the principles of law.
adjective
-
repugnant; loathsome
-
feeling extreme aversion or loathing (for)
abhorrent of vulgarity
-
conflicting (with)
abhorrent to common sense
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of abhorrent
First recorded in 1610–20, abhorrent is from the Latin word abhorrent- (stem of abhorrēns, present participle of abhorrēre ). See abhor, -ent
Explanation
Many people find cruelty toward animals abhorrent, that is, they think it's detestable, obscene, repugnant, repulsive, and offensive to the mind. In other words, they really, really don't like it. When you think of abhorrent, think of horror, as in something so vile and loathsome that you can only react to it in horror. In fact, the word abhorrent in Latin means “to recoil (back away) in horror.” Note that the ending is spelled -ent with an e, not an a. Maybe the a found abhorrent so abhorrent that it didn’t want to appear in it a second time.
Vocabulary lists containing abhorrent
Commonly Confused Words, List 1
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Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Abhorrent though they were, Ms. Mitchell’s comments were hardly surprising.
From Washington Post • Apr. 26, 2023
Abhorrent as these things are, they’re not considered police matters, and it’s unclear what recourse Callisto provides beyond a general knowledge that a harasser has targeted multiple people.
From The Verge • Apr. 17, 2018
The 80-year-old said he was "fuming and furious" about the error, which saw songs by the group Abhorrent Decimation printed on his CD.
From BBC • Apr. 25, 2016
Clifton's track listing was mixed up with that of Abhorrent Decimation's album, Miasmic Mutation.
From BBC • Apr. 25, 2016
How dare you pry into the secret—" "Abhorrent thought!
From The Prince of Graustark by McCutcheon, George Barr
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
