detest
[dih-test]
- to feel abhorrence of; hate; dislike intensely.
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Origin of detest
Synonyms
See more synonyms for detest on Thesaurus.comabhor, loathe, abominate, execrate, despise. See hate.
Antonyms
love, like.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for detest
Contemporary Examples
It stands, in short, for everything a leftist should detest.
In a Fox News survey, and that network knows its Republicans, they dislike her as thoroughly as they detest Obama.
I do not hate the Palestinians, but I detest most of their leaders and their political culture.
The Tea Party Republicans who detest, or more accurately hate, this president will be maddened by his reelection.
GOP Civil War Is Coming as Mitt Romney Campaign Flails in Video’s WakeRobert Shrum
September 18, 2012
They detest the Republican Party almost as much as the Democratic Party.
Historical Examples
If there's one sort of man I detest more than another, it's a man who is sorry for himself.
KMary Roberts Rinehart
Never had it seemed to her possible she could detest him as she did now.
The DreamEmile Zola
I detest the reflection that I would have sacrificed your happiness to mine.
Joseph Andrews, Vol. 2Henry Fielding
That there are people whom it is necessary to detest without compromise.
Little DorritCharles Dickens
I adore having people come to see me, and I detest going to see them.
My Double LifeSarah Bernhardt
detest
- (tr) to dislike intensely; loathe
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin dētestārī to curse (while invoking a god as witness), from de- + testārī to bear witness, from testis a witness
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for detest
v.
early 15c., "to curse, to call God to witness and abhor," from Middle French détester, from Latin detestari "to curse, execrate, abominate, express abhorrence for," literally "denounce with one's testimony," from de- "from, down" (see de-) + testari "be a witness," from testis "witness" (see testament). Related: Detested; detesting.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper