Abomination

/ˌæbəˈmeɪʃən/

nounIntermediateRareGeneral

Definitions

1

Something that is hated or despised

/ˌæbəˈmeɪʃən/

nounnegativeIntermediate
General

Something that is detested or repugnant

The government's actions were considered an abomination by the human rights organization.

💡 Simply: Something very bad or unpleasant

More Examples

2

She thought the idea of eating insects was an abomination.

How It's Used

Literary

"The author described the poverty and suffering as an abomination to humanity."

Religious

"The preacher denounced the sin as an abomination in the eyes of God."

Idioms & expressions

an abomination to

Something that is hated or despised by

"The poverty was an abomination to the wealthy community."

From Old French 'abomination', from Latin 'abominari', meaning 'to deprecate as an ill omen', from 'ab-' (against) and 'ominari' (to predict)

The word 'abomination' has been used since the 14th century to describe something that is hated or despised.

Memory tip

Associating 'abomination' with 'monstrous' can help remember its meaning

Word Origin

Root: ab-

Base: abominate
abomnationabominatonabominationn

Usage

20%Spoken
80%Written