detest

verb

de·​test di-ˈtest 

dē-

detested; detesting; detests

transitive verb

1

: to feel intense and often violent antipathy toward : loathe

detests politics

They seem to truly detest each other.

2

obsolete : curse, denounce

detester noun

Synonyms

• abhor
• abominate
• despise
• execrate
• hate
• loathe

Choose the Right Synonym for detest

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

Examples of detest in a Sentence

I detest pepperoni, and wouldn't eat it if you paid me!

Recent Examples on the Web

Joe has always detested the wealthy, ever since Season 1, but keeps attracting them with his glowering singularity. —Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 23 Apr. 2025

Still, many fans detested playing the game as Abby, the person who kills their beloved Joel. —Eliana Dockterman, Time, 13 Apr. 2025

Wisconsin voters also will be asked April 1 to weigh in on a constitutional amendment to enshrine the state’s photo ID requirement to vote, something Republicans generally want and Democrats generally detest. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025

So, while there is no question that the estate tax is detested by perhaps everyone in the country (other than the obvious, estate planners themselves), there may be a lot of spin in the arguments for its repeal. —Martin Shenkman, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French detester or Latin detestari; Middle French detester, from Latin detestari, literally, to curse while calling a deity to witness, from de- + testari to call to witness — more at testament

First Known Use

circa 1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for detest

• abreast
• accessed
• addressed
• appressed
• armrest
• arrest
• assessed
• attest
• backrest
• behest
• bequest
• caressed

Kids Definition

detest

verb

de·​test di-ˈtest 

: to dislike very strongly