1
as in curse
a prayer that harm will come to someone
upon discovering that someone had stolen his golf bag, he let loose a volley of execrations
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hatred
a very strong dislike
a cowardly betrayal that earned him the execration of all who had remained loyal to the cause
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in enemy
something or someone that is hated
denounced as an abomination before God and man, the heretic would forever be an execration even amongst his own people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 execration
Zweig is characteristically perceptive on the subject: Obviously, a week after Hitler had come to power the idea of monstrous events such as the burning and public execration of books, to become fact a few months later, was still beyond the comprehension of broad-minded people.
—
Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 25 Nov. 2024
Their execration of the actions of Israel's government and security forces will not bring it any faster.
—Oded Naaman, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2011
Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 25 Nov. 2024
Their execration of the actions of Israel's government and security forces will not bring it any faster.
—Oded Naaman, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2011
Recent Examples of Synonyms for execration
Noun
-
Those declines are making Berkshire's more than $350 billion in cash look more like a blessing than a curse.—
Alex Crippen,
CNBC,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Classical Amid all the constant wondering of when things will get better, the slow drip of time may feel like a curse.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Emily Brontë’s novel is a book that stains — its emotions seep through generations, its hatreds metastasize, its love transforms into something unholy and permanent.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The Talmud teaches that Jerusalem was destroyed not only because of hatred, but because of sinat chinam, baseless hatred fueled by moral absolutism.—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Calling out corporate entities and concentration of power as enemies also appears to be a winning strategy for Democrats in their messaging tactics.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Liverpool were their own worst enemy as their hopes of Champions League qualification suffered another blow.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The reality is that consumers could easily reduce their carbon footprints by changing their thermostats, buying smaller cars and driving more slowly, but few seem willing to do so despite the many imprecations from climate change activists.—
Michael Lynch,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
-
The cabdriver—a scrawny older man—drives rapidly and erratically, cutting off other vehicles, muttering imprecations in an unfamiliar language under his breath, swerving in and out of lanes, blowing his horn to force laggard drivers to let him by.—
Annie Proulx,
The New Yorker,
30 June 2024
Noun
-
Between the lines: Many undecideds are painfully trying to balance their sense of obligation with their detestation for Trump, as USA Today first detailed on Thursday.—
Erin Doherty,
Axios,
14 Dec. 2024
-
One of the most memorable chapters epitomizes her detestation for the ultra-wealthy and pompous intellectuals who rushed to rationalize her work.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
20 Jan. 2024
Noun
-
Whatever the reason—gold lust, bad luck, a malediction—the Prince de Conty continues to bring ill fortune upon those in its ambit, even two hundred and seventy-eight years after its demise.—
Lauren Collins,
The New Yorker,
22 July 2024
-
What’s more, Presence imbues the song with a story centered around death, misfortune, and perhaps even malediction.—
SPIN Contributor,
SPIN,
11 Mar. 2024
Noun
-
These findings echo a broader pattern political scientists call affective polarization: the replacement of disagreement with abhorrence.—
Manvir Singh,
New Yorker,
27 Oct. 2025
-
When human decency and basic civility fall victim to partisanship and ideology, and abhorrence of violence becomes tempered by political aims, monstrosities and tyrannies become possible.—
Michael Bloomberg,
Twin Cities,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
While the president’s focus seems to be on eradicating African Americans and our contributions from America and its culture, his hate campaign doesn’t stop with African Americans.—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Love builds up, whereas hate destroys.—
Tucker J. Gregor,
The Conversation,
12 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Execration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/execration. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
