detest

verb

di-ˈtest How to pronounce detest (audio)
Definition of detestnext
as in to hate
to dislike strongly I detest pepperoni, and wouldn't eat it if you paid me!

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb detest contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of detest are abhor, abominate, hate, and loathe. While all these words mean "to feel strong aversion or intense dislike for," detest suggests violent antipathy.

detests cowards

When is abhor a more appropriate choice than detest?

The words abhor and detest are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, abhor implies a deep often shuddering repugnance.

a crime abhorred by all

When might abominate be a better fit than detest?

The synonyms abominate and detest are sometimes interchangeable, but abominate suggests strong detestation and often moral condemnation.

abominates all forms of violence

In what contexts can hate take the place of detest?

While in some cases nearly identical to detest, hate implies an emotional aversion often coupled with enmity or malice.

hated the enemy with a passion

Where would loathe be a reasonable alternative to detest?

In some situations, the words loathe and detest are roughly equivalent. However, loathe implies utter disgust and intolerance.

loathed the mere sight of them

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of detest Although many workers detest checking their inboxes—often flooded with mundane inquiries and spam emails—some executives go straight to their unreads each morning. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 2 Jan. 2026 Meanwhile, Marie Antoinette’s parties embodied everything that her haters detested. —Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 29 Dec. 2025 Yes, guy-in-front-row may detest you. —Matt Fuchs, Time, 4 Nov. 2025 Those who predicted a doomed future for all of humanity called us addicts and criminals, leeches and slime (and way worse things) because we were detested, shouted at, dragged by our arms across bedrooms and public sporting events. —Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for detest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detest
  1. hate
  2. despise
Verb
  • Vonn tapped her toe into Act 2 and didn’t hate it.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Bias, hate and stalemate serves no one for very long.
    — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of hate
Verb
  • An unofficial list provided by the Rhode Island Invasive Species Council includes a number of aggressive plants that are widely despised by gardeners, such as Norway maple, Oriental bittersweet, Tree of Heaven, autumn olive, garlic mustard and Japanese knotweed.
    — Antonia Noori Farzan, The Providence Journal, 26 Jan. 2026
  • The production reimagines the titular character as Alice, a novelist who despises hollow contemporary mantras and faces backlash for speaking her mind.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
Definition of despise

Browse Nearby Words

deters
detest
detestable
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Cite this Entry

“Detest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detest. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on detest

Nglish: Translation of detest for Spanish Speakers

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