English Reference

Word

abhorred

Phoneticsab·horred

US/əbˈhɔɹd/

UK/ɐbhˈɔːd/

Definition

v. to hate something very strongly. You use this when you feel a deep, personal dislike for a person or an action.

v. to regard with intense dislike or hatred. Often used to express a moral or emotional revulsion toward a specific behavior or person.

Examples

“He abhorred the idea of lying to his friends.”

“The local community abhorred the construction of the new highway through the protected forest.”

“The philosopher argued that the state should abhor any form of systemic injustice, even when such principles might conflict with the immediate interests of the ruling class.”

Examples

simple

“He abhorred the idea of lying to his friends.”

contextual

“The local community abhorred the construction of the new highway through the protected forest.”

complex

“The philosopher argued that the state should abhor any form of systemic injustice, even when such principles might conflict with the immediate interests of the ruling class.”

Real-World Examples

“Catherine Connolly, Ireland’s president, once said she abhorred Donald Trump’s policies.”
The Guardian · 11 Sept 2026

Related words

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Rare
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/abhorred

English Reference