Definitions

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

  • adjective Inspiring or deserving abhorrence or scorn. synonym: hateful.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To be detested; hateful; abominable; execrable; very odious.
  • Synonyms Odious, execrable, abhorred, vile. See list under abominable.

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

  • adjective Worthy of being detested; abominable; extremely hateful; very odious; deserving abhorrence.

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

  • adjective Stimulating disgust or detestation; offensive; shocking.

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

  • adjective offensive to the mind
  • adjective unequivocally detestable

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word detestable.

Examples

  • Her engagement at the luncheon-bar he spoke of as a detestable slavery, which had wasted her health and driven her in the end to an act of desperation.

    The Nether World George Gissing 1880

  • That's odd, because I think the word detestable in that verse is the same as the one in Leviticus 18: 22

    4Simpsons Blog - Eternity Matters 2008

  • That's odd, because I think the word detestable in that verse is the same as the one in Leviticus 18: 22

    4Simpsons Blog - Eternity Matters 2008

  • That's odd, because I think the word detestable in that verse is the same as the one in Leviticus 18: 22

    4Simpsons Blog - Eternity Matters 2008

  • But the ad misleadingly omits Mr. Obama's having called Mr. Ayers 'conduct back then "detestable" -- and I agree with that.

    Lanny Davis: Best of Times, Worst of Times 2008

  • But the ad misleadingly omits Mr. Obama's having called Mr. Ayers 'conduct back then "detestable" - and I agree with that.

    The Washington Times stories: Latest Headlines 2008

  • And of course, the preferred alternative spelling for Moloch was Molek, known as the detestable god of the Ammonites.

    Dexter in the Dark Lindsay, Jeff 2007

  • I say, what name detestable enough could we find for such a being? yet, if we impartially consider the case, and our intermediate situation, we must acknowledge that, with regard to inferior animals, just such a being is a sportsman.

    The Illustrated London Reading Book Various

  • PRIME MINISTER described as a detestable campaign and bury the hatchet and all the other weapons employed in it.

    Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 152, April 4, 1917 Various

  • The Egyptians had always been described as detestable enemies and oppressors, yet how enchanting everything seemed in the house of the first Egyptian warrior he had entered.

    Joshua — Volume 1 Georg Ebers 1867

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.