1
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
he considers it abhorrent the way she keeps her dogs penned up all the time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in contemptuous
feeling or showing open dislike for someone or something regarded as undeserving of respect or concern
she's abhorrent of the nonsense that the tabloid media pass off as news
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of abhorrent
Like Humbert Humbert in Nabokov’s Lolita, which Oates’ protagonist references and dismisses frequently, Fox’s story is inescapably abhorrent yet enthralling.
—
Book Marks
june 26, Literary Hub, 26 June 2025
This is not about Western countries being against Iran’s Jurassic theocracy for imprisoning women for failing to cover their heads with a hijab, or for executing gays, or any of its other abhorrent internal policies.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 22 June 2025
Political violence is abhorrent and has no place in our political system or our communities.
—Molly Guthrey, Twin Cities, 14 June 2025
To harass and intentionally cause distress to foster families by threats and coercion is abhorrent.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for abhorrent
Book Marks
june 26, Literary Hub, 26 June 2025
This is not about Western countries being against Iran’s Jurassic theocracy for imprisoning women for failing to cover their heads with a hijab, or for executing gays, or any of its other abhorrent internal policies.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 22 June 2025
Political violence is abhorrent and has no place in our political system or our communities.
—Molly Guthrey, Twin Cities, 14 June 2025
To harass and intentionally cause distress to foster families by threats and coercion is abhorrent.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for abhorrent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abhorrent
Adjective
-
Danny DeVito, who plays the hilarious and disgusting Frank Reynolds on Always Sunny, used to be married to a fellow comedy legend, Rhea Perlman.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
9 July 2025
-
July 7, 2025 Homa included another message from a fan that is far too disgusting to even reiterate.—
Kendall Capps,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
By contrast, there’s something almost nakedly contemptuous about the end of this season.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
30 May 2025
-
That’s fine by an administration that seems basically contemptuous of the very concept of due process.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
31 May 2025
Adjective
-
This has been an awful process—a frantic rush to meet an artificial deadline that has tested every limit of this institution.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 July 2025
-
However, the idea that Gunn was going to make an awful Superman movie does not match up with his history of comic book productions across Marvel and DC.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
Each of us should demand our local leaders challenge every one of the immoral and cruel state laws and the Gestapo-like raids and inhumane detainments carried out by ICE agents.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 July 2025
-
Even critics who considered his policies cruel and racist – and there were many – admitted that behind the bluster there was the charm of a true believer.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
Maybe the news reports and images trigger your feelings around a horrible experience at a camp, a personal loss of a child, or even just a loss of feeling safe and in control of the world, said Hurlbert.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
11 July 2025
-
For many who were directly affected by the flood, these post-flood days have been like waking up from a horrible nightmare.—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Trump has even been disdainful or dismissive of the United States’ traditional allies, such as Mexico and Argentina.—
Christopher Sabatini,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Nov. 2017
-
Wise minds inside the Trump administration will hopefully choose to drop a suit first introduced during by a Biden administration reflexively disdainful of big.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
And by sharing the ugly parts, she's made golf feel more human.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
-
Confirmation bias rears its ugly head, and the person convinces themselves that AI sentience is at hand.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
10 July 2025
-
Deepfakes have been growing more sophisticated in recent years, in addition to being increasingly deployed for malicious purposes.—
Shannon Bond,
NPR,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abhorrent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abhorrent. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share