# abhorrent

/æbˈhɔɹənt/ (US) · /ɐbhˈɒɹənt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

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

## Definition

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.

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

## Examples

- The abhorrent treatment of the prisoners shocked the world.
- The committee rejected the abhorrent proposal to cut funding for basic medical research.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.