abominable
Americanadjective
-
repugnantly hateful; detestable; loathsome.
an abominable crime.
-
very unpleasant; disagreeable.
The weather was abominable last week.
- Synonyms:
- miserable
- Antonyms:
- delightful
-
very bad, poor, or inferior.
They have abominable taste in clothes.
adjective
-
offensive; loathsome; detestable
-
informal very bad, unpleasant, or inferior
abominable weather
abominable workmanship
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of abominable
1325–75; Middle English < Latin abōminābilis, equivalent to abōminā ( rī ) to pray to avert an eventuality, despise as a bad omen, abhor ( see ab-, omen) + -bilis -ble
Explanation
Abominable is as bad as it gets. So if the food at camp is abominable, the campers might start to shout, "Ick! Ick! Your stew is making us sick!" Abominable is an adjective that should be used only when something is exceptionally bad or threatening, like a gigantic furry snowman who is terrorizing a village. Abominable is so absolutely awful that it might cause physical revulsion, so odious that it could bring even the toughest of tough guys to tears — which is a bummer, because it's a surprisingly fun word to say out loud.
Vocabulary lists containing abominable
Negative Words to Describe a Person
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Hobbit
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Oh, No! Synonyms for "Bad"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Patterson illustrated a self-published book, “Do Abominable Snowmen of America Really Exist?”
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026
Authorities banned Warner Bros' Hollywood blockbuster Barbie in 2023, and DreamWorks' animated film Abominable in 2016, for similar reasons.
From BBC • Jan. 6, 2026
In 2019 the Vietnamese government pulled DreamWorks' animated film "Abominable" and last year it banned Sony's action movie "Unchartered" for the same reason.
From Reuters • Jul. 3, 2023
With the parents up front and their daughter and a giant, stuffed Abominable Snowman sharing the backseat, the Portland family eased their vehicle through the first “Maine Celebration of Lights” at the Cumberland Fair Grounds.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 20, 2021
He cracked a small smile and said, "I don't think you saw the Abominable Snowman, girls. I think you had a Frosty sighting!"
From "Case of the Sneaky Snowman: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #5" by Carolyn Keene
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.
