1
as in hatred
a very strong dislike a congenital detestation of injustice, which drove her to become an activist for civil rights
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in enemy
something or someone that is hated the family's pickiest eater is quite vehement in expressing his feelings about boiled cabbage, a particular detestation of his
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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 detestation How Nelson is reformulated from one who feels desire to one who feels detestation (as well as shame for having desired) is the remarkable achievement of both the story and the storyteller and the system that requires it. —
Literary Hub, 3 Feb. 2026 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 Media coverage oscillated wildly between sycophantic applause and puritanical scrutiny - celebrities made to traipse an ephemeral, razor thin line between public adoration and detestation. —Colin Scanlon, Redbook, 4 Aug. 2023 That was the level of detestation and dedication to overturning Roe. —Tara Kole, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 July 2022 Others balance their detestation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine against other concerns. —Walter Russell Mead, WSJ, 21 Mar. 2022 Here all the liturgical phrases of the 19th-century religion of progress, which had seemed hollow and platitudinous to a young man growing up in America in detestation of the Sunday supplements, rang true. —John Dos Passos, National Review, 28 Sep. 2020 Germany has set aside its traditional detestation for debt to unleash emergency spending, while enabling the rest of the European Union to breach limits on deficits. —Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2020
Literary Hub, 3 Feb. 2026 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 Media coverage oscillated wildly between sycophantic applause and puritanical scrutiny - celebrities made to traipse an ephemeral, razor thin line between public adoration and detestation. —Colin Scanlon, Redbook, 4 Aug. 2023 That was the level of detestation and dedication to overturning Roe. —Tara Kole, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 July 2022 Others balance their detestation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine against other concerns. —Walter Russell Mead, WSJ, 21 Mar. 2022 Here all the liturgical phrases of the 19th-century religion of progress, which had seemed hollow and platitudinous to a young man growing up in America in detestation of the Sunday supplements, rang true. —John Dos Passos, National Review, 28 Sep. 2020 Germany has set aside its traditional detestation for debt to unleash emergency spending, while enabling the rest of the European Union to breach limits on deficits. —Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detestation
Noun
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Hard fouls, trash talk and verbal jabs on the floor, and in the media, set a slight tone of hatred that fuels competitiveness and creates lasting memories.— Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2026
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Like Carlson, his hatred of Jews led him to claim support for the one minority with which the state of the Jewish people is in conflict.— Alan M. Dershowitz, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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However, unlike the first movie, the upcoming film will revolve around arch enemies Kent and Luthor working together to defeat an even more dangerous villain, Brainiac, who will be played by newcomer Lars Eidinger.— Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 19 Apr. 2026
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Throughout Orbán’s re-election campaign, the media controlled by his governing Fidesz party depicted Magyar as a reckless enemy of peace, bent on dragging Hungary into the war in neighboring Ukraine.— Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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These findings echo a broader pattern political scientists call affective polarization: the replacement of disagreement with abhorrence.— Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2025
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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
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The difference is Netflix had, at best, an antipathy towards the theatrical experience.— Brent Lang, Variety, 9 Apr. 2026
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The president’s antipathy for Mueller was on full display throughout the course of the Russia investigation, with Mueller – whose tenure as FBI director ended well before Trump took office – brought out of retirement by Trump’s own Justice Department to serve as special counsel.— Josh Campbell, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Identities can collide and collapse into each other and people can forge these new forms of culture and connection, despite the many waves of hate and division that have swept the country through the eras.— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
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The San Francisco District Attorney said the crime was motivated by hate of AI technology.— Kate Rooney,Drew Troast, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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His actions have distanced himself from that fanboy narrative — his roster construction technique tending toward risk-aversion to the exclusion of sentimental attachment to the franchise home run leader.— Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
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This was despite Richardson’s aversion to the local fauna in Louisiana, where much of the movie was shot.— Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Festivalgoers should expect petition endeavors aimed at mellowing out Idaho’s legal phobia about marijuana.— Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 16 Apr. 2026
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His father has many food phobias and drug issues.— Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Civic spending in all but eight states testifies to the fact that the Lost Cause fantasy was not an aberration or an abomination, but the reality across the country.— Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
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While people sometimes express this view in jest, others believe the fake environment borders on a cultural abomination.— Adam Kadlac, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detestation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/detestation. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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