verb

abominate

uh-BAH-mih-nayt/əˈbɑːmɪneɪt/

To hate intensely.

The woman abominates rotten food and recoils from the spoiled meal.

An older Latina adult recoils with intense disgust from spoiled rotten food on a plate.

Etymology

abLatinaway from

+ominLatinomen, foreboding

+ateEnglishverb-forming ending

The combination of “away from” and “omen” originally expressed shunning something as an ill omen. This rejection became intense personal hatred or loathing.

In context

Enhanced Public Domain275:18

he professed both to abominate and despise all mystery refinement and Intrigue either in a prince or a minister

1700s Satire: Jonathan Swift - Gulliver's Travels (Audiobook)

More examples

He abominated the hypocrisy of the ruling class.
She came to abominate the practice after witnessing its effects.
The essay attacks everything its author abominates.

Forms

abominate · abominates · abominated · abominating

Similar words

loathe: The more ordinary verb for intense personal hatred.
detest: Expresses strong dislike without the same formal tone.