First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
abhor
verb ab·hor \əb-ˈhȯr, ab-\
: to dislike (someone or something) very much
ab·horredab·hor·ring
Full Definition of ABHOR
transitive verb
: to regard with extreme repugnance : loathe
— ab·hor·rer \-ˈhȯr-ər\ noun
See abhor defined for English-language learners
See abhor defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Examples of ABHOR
- We believe we know that Americans abhor extremes and mistrust ideology. —David Frum, Atlantic, March 1995
- I abhor latter-day, modishly camp take-offs of my cherished boyhood heroes and heroines (Little Orphan Annie, Wonder Woman, Invisible Scarlet O'Neil). —Mordecai Richler, New York Times Book Review, 3 May 1987
- He abhorred grandiosity. When he came to New York to revise his manuscripts and galley proofs, he would hole up in a little cubicle on the attic floor of the old 52nd Street mansion that went by the name of Random House. —Norman Cousins, Saturday Review, April 1981
- [+]more
Origin of ABHOR
Middle English abhorren, from Latin abhorrēre, from ab- + horrēre to shudder — more at horror
Synonym Discussion of ABHOR
hate, detest, abhor, abominate, loathe mean to feel strong aversion or intense dislike for. hate implies an emotional aversion often coupled with enmity or malice <hated the enemy with a passion>. detest suggests violent antipathy <detests cowards>. abhor implies a deep often shuddering repugnance <a crime abhorred by all>. abominate suggests strong detestation and often moral condemnation <abominates all forms of violence>. loathe implies utter disgust and intolerance <loathed the mere sight of them>.
Rhymes with ABHOR
adore, afore, and/or, as for, ashore, backdoor, bailor, bandore, Bangor, bedsore, before, bezoar, bookstore, box score, but for, call for, candor, captor, centaur, chain store, claymore, closed-door, cold sore, cold store, condor, Côte d'Or, decor, deplore, dime-store, Dior, done for, donor, downpour, drugstore, Dutch door, encore, ephor, explore, eyesore, fall for, feoffor, fetor, Fillmore, first floor, flexor, folklore, footsore, foreshore, fourscore, French door, full-bore, Gabor, galore, Glen More, go for, ground floor, gun for, hard-core, hog score, ichor, ignore, implore, Indore, indoor, in for, inshore, in-store, Kotor, Lahore, lakeshore, lector, lee shore, lessor, line score, look for, Luxor, memoir, mentor, Mysore, nearshore, Nestor, next-door, offshore, onshore, outdoor, outpour, phosphor, psywar, rancor, rapport, raptor, raw score, Realtor, restore, rhetor, savior, seafloor, seashore, sector, seignior, Senghor, senhor, sensor, settlor, Seymour, signor, smoothbore, s'more, soft-core, sophomore, stand for, stentor, stertor, storm door, Strathmore, stressor, stridor, subfloor, swear for, Tagore, take for, temblor, tensor, therefor, therefore, threescore, Timor, trapdoor, turgor, uproar, vendor, what's more, wherefore, wild boar, woodlore, z-score
ABHORRED Defined for Kids
abhor
verb ab·hor \ab-ˈhȯr\
ab·horredab·hor·ring
Definition of ABHOR for Kids
: to dislike very much : loathe <He abhorred the idea of eating live worms … — Brian Jacques, Redwall>
Learn More About ABHOR
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: abhorrencePrevious Word in the Dictionary: abhominableAll Words Near: abhor
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up abhor? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).