detestable

[ dih-tes-tuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. deserving to be detested; abominable; hateful.

   Synonyms: vile, odious, loathsome, abhorrent, execrable

detestable

/ dɪˈtɛstəbəl /

adjective

1. being or deserving to be abhorred or detested; abominable; odious

Derived Forms

• deˈtestably, adverb
• deˌtestaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• de·testa·bili·ty de·testa·ble·ness noun
• de·testa·bly adverb
• unde·testa·bili·ty noun
• unde·testa·ble adjective
• unde·testa·ble·ness noun
• unde·testa·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of detestable¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Middle French < Latin dētestābilis, equivalent to dētest ( ārī ) to detest + -ābilis -able

Example Sentences

Most significantly, it overturned a New York minimum wage law in a decision known as Tipaldo, after its detestable protagonist, the owner of a laundry who had been cheating his laundresses of their legal wages.

From Los Angeles Times

Yes, even detestable speech of that kind should remain as free as possible.

From Salon

And many could withhold their votes in November, returning the White House key to the detestable Donald Trump.

From Los Angeles Times

I can even appreciate the innovations it contributed to modern American music, partly because its most significant one bolsters my argument as to why it’s still sort of detestable.

From Salon

And how a beloved author could have been a detestable human.

From Los Angeles Times