abhorrent

American  

[ab-hawr-uhnt, -hor-] / æbˈhɔr ənt, -ˈhɒr- /

adjective

1. causing repugnance; detestable; loathsome.

   an abhorrent deed.

   Synonyms:

   abominable, shocking

2. utterly opposed, or contrary, or in conflict (usually followed byto ).

   abhorrent to reason.

3. feeling extreme repugnance or aversion (usually followed byof ).

   abhorrent of waste.

4. remote in character (usually followed byfrom ).

   abhorrent from the principles of law.

---

abhorrent British  

/ əbˈhɒrənt /

adjective

1. repugnant; loathsome

2. feeling extreme aversion or loathing (for)

   abhorrent of vulgarity

3. conflicting (with)

   abhorrent to common sense

---

Other Word Forms

• abhorrently adverb
• unabhorrently adverb

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

Example Sentences

They are clearly abhorrent and I have never questioned his conviction.

From BBC

Pop icon Elton John on Friday accused the publisher of two UK tabloids of "abhorrent" privacy invasions "outside even the most basic standards of human decency" as he testified at London's High Court.

From Barron's

“Richard believes that Epstein’s actions were abhorrent and supports the right to justice for his many victims,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Cerf “wasn’t afraid to tell her that he considered her philosophy of rational selfishness ‘abhorrent,’” Ms. Feldman writes, “but at the same time, he promised that if RH published her, ‘nobody’ would be a censor.”

From The Wall Street Journal

"We were completely unaware that this contestant had made such abhorrent comments," they said.

From BBC

Related Words

• despicable
• loathsome
• repulsive