abominate

American  

[uh-bom-uh-neyt] / əˈbɒm əˌneɪt /

verb (used with object)

abominated, abominating

1. to regard with intense aversion or loathing; abhor.

   Synonyms:

   execrate, loathe

   Antonyms:

   love, like

2. to dislike strongly.

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abominate British  

/ əˈbɒmɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to dislike intensely; loathe; detest

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Related Words

See hate.

Other Word Forms

• abominator noun
• self-abominating adjective

Etymology

Origin of abominate

First recorded in 1840–50; from Latin abōminātus “loathed,” past participle of abōminārī. See abominable, -ate ¹

Explanation

When you abominate something, you really, really hate it. You might abominate your curfew, or the substitute teacher for your math class. Picture a preacher telling you, "Abominate sin!" Abominate comes from the Latin verb abominari, which comes from ab-, meaning “away from,” and omin, meaning “omen.” You might consider something you abominate — the sound of nails on a chalkboard, for many — to be as thoroughly bad as a bad omen itself. You avoid that sound at all costs, the way some people avoid a black cat crossing the street.

Example Sentences

There is little that Osborne does not abominate.

From Time Magazine Archive

"I am not an intolerant woman, but I abominate stupidity," she says.

From Time Magazine Archive

They abominate the starched prosiness of the northern Haskell clan into which Sara marries, but they are game.

From Time Magazine Archive

I absolutely deplore and abominate, however, the person that Clinton is.

From Time Magazine Archive

You got me out of this place and here’s your reward; you’re everything we jointly abominate.

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick