abominate

verb

abom·​i·​nate ə-ˈbä-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce abominate (audio)
abominated; abominating
Synonyms of abominatenext

transitive verb

formal
: to hate or loathe intensely : abhor
Above all he abominated intolerance …—G. R. Elton
abominator
ə-ˈbä-mə-ˌnā-tər How to pronounce abominate (audio)
noun

Synonyms

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Choose the Right Synonym for abominate

hate, detest, abhor, abominate, loathe mean to feel strong aversion or intense dislike for.

hate implies an emotional aversion often coupled with enmity or malice.

hated the enemy with a passion

detest suggests violent antipathy.

detests cowards

abhor implies a deep often shuddering repugnance.

a crime abhorred by all

abominate suggests strong detestation and often moral condemnation.

abominates all forms of violence

loathe implies utter disgust and intolerance.

loathed the mere sight of them

Examples of abominate in a Sentence

a politician who is revered by his supporters and abominated by his enemies he abominates the sight of the park he once loved being turned into a parking lot
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And there is nothing more deflating than watching someone who has put his foot wrong in this culture subject himself to performative self-criticism, abominating himself as a bearer of privilege. —Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 2 July 2019

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin abōminātus, past participle of abōminārī "to avert (an event forecast by an omen) by prayer, to abhor, detest," from ab- ab- + ōminārī "to know by means of an omen, presage," verbal derivative of ōmin-, ōmen omen

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of abominate was in 1597

Dictionary Entries Near abominate

abominable snowman

abominate

abomination

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Cite this Entry

“Abominate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abominate. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

abominate

verb
abom·​i·​nate ə-ˈbäm-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce abominate (audio)
abominated; abominating
formal
: hate, loathe
abominator
-ˌnāt-ər How to pronounce abominate (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on abominate

Nglish: Translation of abominate for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of abominate for Arabic Speakers

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