ABHORRENT

abhorrent, detestable, obscene, repugnant, repulsive

(adjective) offensive to the mind; “an abhorrent deed”; “the obscene massacre at Wounded Knee”; “morally repugnant customs”; “repulsive behavior”; “the most repulsive character in recent novels”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

abhorrent (comparative more abhorrent, superlative most abhorrent)

(archaic) Inconsistent with, or far removed from, something; strongly opposed [Late 16th century.]

Contrary to something; discordant. [Mid 17th century.]

Abhorring; detesting; having or showing abhorrence; loathing. [Mid 18th century.]

Detestable or repugnant. [Early 19th century.]

Usage notes

• Nouns to which abhorrent is often applied: behavior, act, crime, practice, thing.

• (opposed): abhorrent is typically followed by from.

• (contrary): abhorrent is followed by to.

Anagrams

• earthborn

Source: Wiktionary


Ab*hor"rent, a. Etym: [L. abhorens, -rentis, p. pr. of abhorrere.]

1. Abhorring; detesting; having or showing abhorrence; loathing; hence, strongly opposed to; as, abhorrent thoughts. The persons most abhorrent from blood and treason. Burke. The arts of pleasure in despotic courts I spurn abhorrent. Clover.

2. Contrary or repugnant; discordant; inconsistent; -- followed by to. "Injudicious profanation, so abhorrent to our stricter principles." Gibbon.

3. Detestable. "Pride, abhorrent as it is." I. Taylor.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

22 June 2025

STRAP

(noun) an elongated leather strip (or a strip of similar material) for binding things together or holding something in position


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Coffee Trivia

Some 16th-century Italian clergymen tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic.” However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had coffee baptized in 1600.

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