# abominable

/əˈbɑmənəbəɫ/ (US) · /ɐbˈɒmɪnəbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abominable
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. morally hateful

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

extremely bad or evil in a way that makes you feel disgusted.

For teachers: deserving of or causing intense loathing or moral revulsion.

- The dictator was responsible for abominable crimes against his own people.
- The international community condemned the abominable treatment of political prisoners, citing numerous violations of basic human rights.

### 2. very unpleasant or poor quality

adjective · CEFR B2

very unpleasant, or of such bad quality that it is difficult to tolerate.

For teachers: exceptionally poor in quality or extremely disagreeable in nature.

- The weather during our holiday was absolutely abominable, with constant rain and wind.
- The service at the restaurant was abominable, leaving the guests waiting for over an hour before their orders were even acknowledged.

Usage: Often used with the intensifier 'absolutely' for emphasis.

## Examples

- The weather was abominable during the entire trip.
- The witness described the abominable conditions in the prison where the prisoners were kept.
- The philosopher argued that certain abominable acts, though technically legal, should be universally condemned by any society that values human dignity.

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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.