adj
C2
Proficient
abhorrent
ab-O-ruhnt
Abhorrent (adj) means causing intense disgust or hatred; utterly repugnant. Example: “Torture is abhorrent to most civilized societies.”
adj
1
Causing intense disgust or hatred; utterly repugnant.
"Torture is abhorrent to most civilized societies."
"He found the idea of cheating on the exam morally abhorrent."
How to use abhorrent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSo disgusting or hateful that it's hard to even think about it calmly.
Common pairings
morally abhorrent
abhorrent to
find something abhorrent
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more abhorrent
- Superlative
- most abhorrent
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Torture is _____ to most civilized societies.
Etymology
From Latin abhorrens, the present participle of abhorrere — see abhor.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
nonabhorrent
unabhorrent
Related words
Rhymes for abhorrent
See all rhymes for abhorrent →Frequently asked questions
What does “abhorrent” mean?
The word “abhorrent” means causing intense disgust or hatred; utterly repugnant. In plain terms, so disgusting or hateful that it's hard to even think about it calmly.
How do you pronounce “abhorrent”?
“Abhorrent” is pronounced ab-O-ruhnt (/æbˈhɔɹənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “abhorrent” in a sentence?
Here is “abhorrent” used in a sentence: “Torture is abhorrent to most civilized societies.”
What is the opposite of “abhorrent”?
The opposite of “abhorrent” — its antonyms — are nonabhorrent and unabhorrent.
What part of speech is “abhorrent”?
“Abhorrent” is an adjective.
Where does the word “abhorrent” come from?
The word “abhorrent” comes from Latin. From Latin abhorrens, the present participle of abhorrere — see abhor.
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