Definitions

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

  • noun One that is disgusting, loathsome, or repellent.
  • noun A feeling of repugnance or loathing.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The act of abhorring; a feeling of extreme aversion or detestation; strong hatred.
  • noun An expression of abhorrence.
  • noun That which excites repugnance or loathing: as, servility is my abhorrence.

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

  • noun Extreme hatred or detestation; the feeling of utter dislike.

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

  • noun hate coupled with disgust

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

abhor +‎ -ence

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Examples

  • In the name of mercy, what has happened? cried Clara, shrinking in abhorrence from the ghastly woman.

    The Hidden Hand 1888

  • The root of most people's kale abhorrence is texture.

    Diaphanous Roasted Kale Sarah Lenz 2009

  • Now, we must prologue a body of this article by stating which abhorrence is aged shawl when it comes to me.

    Archive 2009-10-01 admin 2009

  • The root of most people's kale abhorrence is texture.

    Archive 2009-01-01 Sarah Lenz 2009

  • Yet the Hindus, I repeat, hold pederasty in abhorrence and are as much scandalised by being called Gánd-márá (anus-beater) or Gándú

    The Book of The Thousand Nights And A Night 2006

  • I held the tan-yard in abhorrence – to enter it made me ill for days; sometimes for months and months I never went near it.

    John Halifax, Gentleman 1897

  • At the moment when despair was in her orphan heart, and her whole soul turned with abhorrence from the supposed De Valence, she met the eyes dearest to her on earth – those of indeed her father's friend!

    The Scottish Chiefs 1875

  • They held adultery in abhorrence, and with the more reason as their marriages were dissolvable at pleasure.

    The History of Emily Montague 1769

  • On the 29th May he reported a combination of the people headed by the Anti-convict Association "to hold in abhorrence any person who may aid the exiles in landing, and may have any communication with them whatever," and to stop the supply of stores to Government.

    The Autobiography of Liuetenant-General Sir Harry Smith, Baronet of Aliwal on the Sutlej, G. C. B. 1903

  • Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp -- Not the tabernacle, of which a pattern had been given him, for it was not yet erected, but his own tent -- conspicuous as that of the leader -- in a part of which he heard cases and communed with God about the people's interests; hence called "the tabernacle of the congregation," and the withdrawal of which, in abhorrence from a polluted camp, was regarded as the first step in the total abandonment with which God had threatened them.

    Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible 1871

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