DictionaryodiousDeeply offensive
adjective

odious

OH-dee-us/ˈəʊdiəs/

Extremely unpleasant or deserving hatred.

The odious rotting food makes the woman recoil from the overflowing bin.

A woman recoils in intense disgust from an open rubbish bin overflowing with rotting food, illustrating something extremely unpleasant.
Etymology

The hatred in odious is the reaction something deserves or provokes, not a feeling it possesses. The Latin adjective already meant hateful or offensive, directly supporting today's strong disapproval.

In context

Audiobooks. Full length, free79:51
don't know what else you could eat it with but then it must be one of good size yes that will do but I beg you will not make that odious noise in drinking your soup
GENTLEMEN’S BOOK OF ETIQUETTE. by CECIL B. HARTLEY.. Audiobook - full length, free

More examples

  • She refuses to defend the regime's odious treatment of prisoners.
  • Scrubbing the filthy dumpster is an odious task.
  • His habit of humiliating coworkers makes him particularly odious.

Forms

odious

odiously adverb — In an extremely unpleasant or hateful manner.

odiousness noun — The quality of being deeply offensive.

Similar words

abhorrent
Emphasizes strong disgust, especially toward morally unacceptable behavior.
offensive
Can mean merely insulting or upsetting, without extreme hatefulness.
repugnant
Emphasizes intense disgust or rejection rather than simple unpleasantness.