detestable
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of detestable
1375–1425; late Middle English < Middle French < Latin dētestābilis, equivalent to dētest ( ārī ) to detest + -ābilis -able
Explanation
Anything that's so hateful or disgusting that you can't bear to think about it is detestable. Many little kids find all green vegetables to be utterly detestable. It's pretty common for people to find hate speech detestable, as well as stepping on slugs in bare feet and the pungent smell of garbage. The verb detest means "hate" or "strongly dislike," and the adjective detestable brings in an element of disgust or offensiveness. The Latin root, detestabilis, means "abominable," from detestari, "curse or express abhorrence for."
Vocabulary lists containing detestable
Romeo and Juliet
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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.
Lastly, that if you resisted once the fatal passion you should be for ever released, as well as myself, from the power of the fairy Detestable.
From Old French Fairy Tales by Ségur, Sophie, comtesse de
Detestable, detestable, that the flesh and the deuill shoulde deale by their factors.
From The Vnfortunate Traveller, or The Life Of Jack Wilton With An Essay On The Life And Writings Of Thomas Nash By Edmund Gosse by Gosse, Edmund
"Detestable weather!" he exclaimed, as a blast of wind shook the windows.
From A Noble Name or D?nninghausen by Gl?mer, Claire Von
"Detestable !" cried the Emperor; "that is worthy of Brunet;" and they laughed heartily over this play on words, while declaring it what the Emperor called it.
From Recollections of the Private Life of Napoleon — Volume 03 by Clark, Walter
"We'll see the boat clear to her last timber, if you've no objections," said the Detestable One.
From New Treasure Seekers or, The Bastable Children in Search of a Fortune by Nesbit, E. (Edith)
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.
