verb
detest
dih-TEHST
verb
1
To hate something or someone intensely.
"I detest being kept waiting."
"She detests dishonesty of any kind."
How to Use Detest
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo loathe or strongly dislike something.
Common mistake
Stronger than "dislike" — reserve it for genuine, intense hatred rather than mild annoyance.
Common pairings
detest the idea of
absolutely detest
detest each other
Word Forms
detested past tense, detests singular
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Etymology
From Middle French détester, from Latin dētestor, literally "to call the gods to witness against" — from dē- + testor ("to testify"), the root behind "testify" and "testimony".