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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 notes

In plain EnglishSo disgusting or hateful that it's hard to even think about it calmly.

Common pairings
morally abhorrent abhorrent to find something abhorrent

Word Forms

more abhorrent comparative, most abhorrent superlative

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Torture is _____ to most civilized societies.

Etymology

From Latin abhorrens, the present participle of abhorrere — see abhor.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for abhorrent

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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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