Skip to main content
abhorrent

abhorrent

21 7.7
Causing strong dislike or disgust because people see it as morally wrong
  • adjective
  • /əˈbɔːrənt/
: repugnante
  • Many people find animal cruelty to be completely abhorrent and unacceptable.
  • find abhorrent

The comments that I read were absolutely abhorrent on your new podcast.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • We must think about the message this sends out to women and girls, the chief victims of this absolutely abhorrent practice.

  • I assure you we'll do everything in our power to root out this abhorrent behavior.

  • And then, you know, this is someone who is completely abhorrent to me.

  • What would normally be abhorrent becomes "not so bad" or perhaps even funny.

    Academic text (2011)
  • War within Europe itself would be abhorrent but not impossible.

    Academic text (1997)
  • And somehow, to drink over there is abhorrent to me.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Your Majesty... ...I could not even consider such an abhorrent crime.

  • To leave office before my term is completed is abhorrent to every instinct in my body.

  • I think the belief that animal testing for medical reasons is abhorrent is irrational and harmful.

    Blog text (16)
  • The Meat House deal reeked of town politics and cronyism, which is abhorrent in this town.

    Blog text (6)

Synonyms

awful
vsabhorrent
914 1.0

Very bad or unpleasant and causing dislike

is more morally charged and produces stronger disgust
disgusting
vsabhorrent
538 1.3

Causing a strong feeling of dislike or making you feel sick

adds moral or ethical rejection rather than mere unpleasantness
vile
vsabhorrent
131 5.0

Very bad and morally wrong

is used when moral wrongness causes a strong disgust reaction
obnoxious
vsabhorrent
  • Offensive
125 5.1

Very unpleasant in a way that makes people angry or upset

is more morally rejecting and disgusting rather than merely annoying
despicable
vsabhorrent
  • Offensive
87 5.7

Very bad in a way that makes people feel strong dislike and disgust

adds a marked feeling of disgust to that contempt
appalling
vsabhorrent
84 5.6

Causing shock and strong disgust because it is very bad

is more about moral repugnance than shock alone
repulsive
vsabhorrent
54 5.5

Causing strong dislike or disgust, like a very bad smell

adds a clear moral judgement to that physical revulsion
repugnant
vsabhorrent
35 7.8

Very unpleasant and morally wrong to most people

is similar but also stresses visceral disgust as well as moral wrongness
distasteful
vsabhorrent
34 4.6

Something that makes people feel dislike or disgust

is stronger and judged morally wrong rather than merely unpleasant
deplorable
vsabhorrent
34 6.8

Very bad and unacceptable, deserving strong criticism

is more about moral disgust than just being shocking
unsavory
vsabhorrent
  • US
31 7.2

Something people think is morally wrong or dishonest

is more severe, causing both moral offence and visceral disgust
revolting
vsabhorrent
31 4.9

Very unpleasant and likely to make you feel disgusted

is more about moral repugnance beyond mere unpleasantness
objectionable
vsabhorrent
29 6.7

Causing people to feel offended or want to protest

is stronger, provoking moral disgust rather than mild disapproval
obscene
vsabhorrent
  • Offensive
27 5.7

Very shocking and upsetting to many people because it breaks moral rules

also produces strong personal disgust alongside that shock
abominable
vsabhorrent
26 7.2

Very bad or morally wrong so people strongly dislike it

adds immediate personal disgust to that moral condemnation
loathsome
vsabhorrent
19 7.7

Causing strong disgust or hatred in people

is more about clear moral offensiveness as well as disgust
odious
vsabhorrent
  • Formal
19 8.2

Very unpleasant and likely to make people feel strong dislike

adds a strong sense of physical disgust to that moral hatred
repellent
vsabhorrent
10 6.1

Causing strong dislike or disgust

is stronger, tying unpleasantness to clear moral offence
detestable
vsabhorrent
9 6.5

Very unpleasant and causing people to feel strong dislike or hate

also brings a stronger feeling of disgust alongside contempt
anathematic
vsabhorrent
  • Offensive
6 9.9

A person, idea or action that many people strongly dislike

is stronger in producing visceral disgust as well as condemnation
execrable
vsabhorrent
  • Formal
4 9.5

Very bad and unpleasant, causing strong dislike

adds a moral offensiveness and personal disgust to that condemnation
offensive
vsabhorrent
3 5.3

Having a bad smell or taste that bothers you

is harsher, carrying moral repugnance beyond mild upset
repelling
vsabhorrent
1 6.9

Making people feel strong dislike or disgust

is more about moral wrongness causing that quick rejection
disgustful
vsabhorrent
1 6.7

Causing a strong feeling of dislike or making people feel sick

is more focused on moral offence as well as sensory disgust
loathly
vsabhorrent
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Very unpleasant and likely to make people feel disgusted

leans more toward moral repugnance beyond general offensiveness

Antonyms

392 2.5

Good enough for a particular use or standard

323 1.0

Giving a gentle feeling of enjoyment

How Offensive

repugnant
35 7.8
detestable
9 6.5
abhorrent
21 7.7
offensive
  • Offensive
276 4.0
unpleasant
183 1.0

Surface Forms

abhorrent positive

Morphology

abhorrent = abhor (transparent) = abhor + ent

A straightforward adjectival formation from the verb 'abhor' using the productive suffix '-ent', so the adjective's meaning is directly derived from the verb.

Etymology

The word abhorrent comes from the parts ab- 'away' and horrere 'to shudder', and is the same root as horror. Think of it as something that makes you 'shudder away', which is why we use abhorrent for things that feel disgusting or morally wrong.