abhor

[ab-hawr]

verb (used with object), ab·horred, ab·hor·ring.

to regard with extreme repugnance or aversion; detest utterly; loathe; abominate.

Origin of abhor

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin abhorrēre to shrink back from, shudder at, equivalent to ab- ab- + horrēre to bristle, tremble

Related formsab·hor·rer, nounsu·per·ab·hor, verb (used with object), su·per·ab·horred, su·per·ab·hor·ring.un·ab·horred, adjective

Synonyms for abhor

despise. See hate.

Antonyms for abhor

love, admire.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for abhors

scorn, despise, detest, hate, loathe, abominate

Examples from the Web for abhors

Contemporary Examples of abhors

The science of air crash investigation – and it is a very mature science – abhors mystery.
MH370 Debris Is Lost Forever, Can the Plane Be Found Without It?
Clive Irving
September 7, 2014
Bauer is aware that current momentum is pointing towards the one-state solution, an outcome he abhors.
Accusing Each Other Of Genocide
Mira Sucharov
March 5, 2013
Small said the State Department abhors the violence attributed to Boko Haram.
Nigeria’s Most Sadistic Killers: Why Is Boko Haram Not Designated a Terrorist Group?
Eli Lake
October 16, 2012
And so the critique smacks of the same tribal hypocrisy he abhors.
Diaspora's Splendor
Jonathan Guyer
August 30, 2012
Meanwhile, it is well known that Hollande abhors just this sort of spotlight.
France’s Valerie Trierweiler Tweets Against Segolene Royal
Tracy McNicoll
June 12, 2012

Historical Examples of abhors

But to think of living with and living for a man one abhors, what a sad thing is that!
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
If he has sometimes worked wrong by us, he has been driven to do that which in his soul he abhors.
The Scapegoat
Hall Caine
An enemy to spasms in every form, he abhors the Spasmodic School of Poets.
The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume VI
Various
Thus the Gael abhors the very roads that lead to a plague-struck dwelling.
John Splendid
Neil Munro
Even Cobbett, who abhors the dash, permits it to be used for this purpose.
"Stops"
Paul Allardyce

British Dictionary definitions for abhors

abhor

verb -hors, -horring or -horred

(tr) to detest vehemently; find repugnant; reject

Derived Formsabhorrer, noun

Word Origin for abhor

C15: from Latin abhorrēre to shudder at, shrink from, from ab- away from + horrēre to bristle, shudder

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for abhors

abhor

mid-15c., from Latin abhorrere "shrink back from, have an aversion for, shudder at," from ab- "away" (see ab-) + horrere "tremble at, shudder," literally "to bristle, be shaggy," from PIE *ghers- "start out, stand out, rise to a point, bristle" (see horror). Related: Abhorred; abhorring.