# abhorrence

/əbˈhɔɹəns/ (US) · /ɐbhˈɒɹəns/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abhorrence
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

a very strong feeling of hate or disgust toward something. You use this when you want to show that you think something is absolutely terrible.

For teachers: a strong feeling of hatred or intense dislike. Often used in formal or literary contexts to describe a moral or emotional revulsion.

## Examples

- The public showed great abhorrence for the crime.
- The committee expressed its deep abhorrence for the unethical practices that had been uncovered.
- His face was a mask of abhorrence as he witnessed the destruction of the ancient library, a site of immense cultural significance.

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