ENGLISH
REFERENCE

abhorrent

adj.
C1 Advanced US //æbˈhɔɹənt// UK //ɐbhˈɒɹənt// ab·hor·rent Archaic

adj. causing a strong feeling of disgust or horror. You use this to describe things that are so bad or cruel that they make you feel sick.

adj. causing extreme revulsion or horror; deeply offensive to moral or social standards. Often used to describe violent or unethical behavior.


SIMPLE

The abhorrent treatment of the prisoners shocked the world.

CONTEXTUAL

The committee rejected the abhorrent proposal to cut funding for basic medical research.

COMPLEX

While the law provides a framework for justice, the abhorrent nature of the crime made it difficult for the jury to reach a unanimous verdict.

Synonyms
Origin

Borrowed from Latin abhorrēns, abhorrēntis, present active participle of abhorreō (“abhor”). Equivalent to abhor + -ent.

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