abominable

[uh-bom-uh-nuh-buhl]

adjective

1. repugnantly hateful; detestable; loathsome.

   an abominable crime.

   Synonyms: foul, revolting, horrible, abhorrent
   Antonyms: admirable, likable

2. very unpleasant; disagreeable.

   The weather was abominable last week.

   Synonyms: miserable
   Antonyms: delightful

3. very bad, poor, or inferior.

   They have abominable taste in clothes.

abominable

/ əˈbɒmɪnəbəl /

adjective

1. offensive; loathsome; detestable

2. informal,  very bad, unpleasant, or inferior

   abominable weather

   abominable workmanship

Other Word Forms

• abominableness noun
• abominably adverb
• superabominable adjective
• superabominableness noun
• superabominably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of abominable¹

1325–75; Middle English < Latin abōminābilis, equivalent to abōminā ( rī ) to pray to avert an eventuality, despise as a bad omen, abhor ( ab-, omen ) + -bilis -ble

Word History and Origins

Origin of abominable¹

C14: from Latin abōminābilis, from abōminārī to _abominate

Example Sentences

One abominable practice used on political adversaries was tarring and feathering.

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Something Just Like This, an abominable song on record, becomes a euphoric mini-rave on stage; while Fix You is simply majestic.

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Speaking in court in June, Bolsonaro said a coup was an "abominable thing" and there had "never been talk of a coup" between him and his military commanders.

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Speaking in court for the first time last month, Bolsonaro said a coup was an "abominable thing".

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And now he seems to be going to war with the White House over the GOP budget bill, which he calls "abominable," telling anyone who voted for it they should be ashamed.

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Related Words

• abhorrent 
• atrocious 
• awful 
• contemptible 
• despicable 
• disgusting 
• heinous 
• horrible 
• horrid 
• odious 
• reprehensible 
• repugnant 
• repulsive 
• revolting 
• terrible 
• vile 
• wretched