Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Strong dislike or hatred; abhorrence.
  • noun One that is detested.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Extreme dislike; hatred; abhorrence; loathing: with of.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The act of detesting; extreme hatred or dislike; abhorrence; loathing.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Hate coupled with disgust; abhorrence.
  • noun Something detested.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun hate coupled with disgust

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • One of the most-frequent targets for my detestation is California chardonnay — which is often guilty of all three infractions.

    WTN: Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnays (Sonoma) 2007

  • Thus, the EU will bring no improvement to road safety and, as it takes its greater role in projecting road safety myths, and progressively assumes responsibility for speed enforcement standards, we can transfer our detestation from the imbeciles who are at present destroying road safety, and direct it at the EU.

    They know not what they do Richard 2006

  • The estate of the criminal is confiscated, and all that belonged to her destroyed with her (v. 39): They shall throw down thy eminent place, and (v. 41) they shall burn thy houses, as the habitations of bad women are destroyed, in detestation of their lewdness.

    Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume IV (Isaiah to Malachi) 1721

  • Or, they rent their clothes, as if he had spoken blasphemy; and threw dust into the air, in detestation of it; or signifying how ready they were to throw stones at Paul, if the chief captain would have permitted them.

    Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume VI (Acts to Revelation) 1721

  • He wavered and doubted, and to his confidants, with whom he could bluster and talk big, he expressed in no measured terms his detestation of Liberal principles, and especially of Catholic Emancipation.

    The Greville Memoirs A Journal of the Reigns of King George IV and King William IV, Volume 1 (of 3) Charles Greville 1829

  • Nay, we not only behaved as having no concern for him, but as loathing him, and having him in detestation.

    Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume IV (Isaiah to Malachi) 1721

  • Rather than regarding homosexual practice with "abhorrence" and "detestation" - as did George Washington and most everyone until recent years - Obama has euphemistically vowed to

    Americans For Truth 2009

  • Rather than regarding homosexual practice with "abhorrence" and "detestation" -- as did George Washington and most everyone until recent years -- Obama has euphemistically vowed to

    ChronWatch - Articles 2009

  • And it would lead to the kind of detestation that would include building debris, coffins, sewage, a giant stagnation pound, maybe a million people homeless.

    CNN Transcript Aug 28, 2005 2005

  • To the credit of the class, however, to which they belong, such persons are not so numerous as formerly, and to the still greater honor of the peasantry be it said, the devil himself is not hated with half the detestation which is borne them.

    Fardorougha, The Miser The Works of William Carleton, Volume One William Carleton 1831

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