detest

[dih-test] / dɪˈtɛst /

VERB

hate; feel disgust toward

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abhor despise loathe

STRONG

abominate execrate reject repudiate

WEAK

be allergic to dislike intensely down on feel aversion toward feel hostility toward feel repugnance toward have no use for recoil from

Antonyms

STRONGEST

admire cherish like love

STRONG

approve

WEAK

adore prize respect

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ethnic Persians are about half the population, and even those who detest the theocratic regime don’t want the country to break up or descend into civil war.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

She wants revenge without dwelling on its cause or her trauma — a word Hester would surely detest.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2025

People detest her and Prince Harry for stepping back from their royal duties and even more so for going public about what life was like for them.

From Salon • Mar. 5, 2025

So can a bridge be built between those who detest the love locks, and those who want them to stay in Bakewell?

From BBC • Aug. 4, 2024

It was funny how he had really come to detest flying.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

Vocabulary lists containing detest

Tears of a Tiger

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Stargirl

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List 1

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