detestable

Also found in: Thesaurus, Legal.

de·test·a·ble

(dĭ-tĕs′tə-bəl)

adj.

Inspiring or deserving abhorrence or scorn. See Synonyms at hateful.

de·test′a·bil′i·ty, de·test′a·ble·ness n.

de·test′a·bly adv.

detestable

(dɪˈtɛstəbəl)

adj

being or deserving to be abhorred or detested; abominable; odious

deˌtestaˈbility, deˈtestableness n

deˈtestably adv

de•test•a•ble

(dɪˈtɛs tə bəl)

adj.

deserving to be detested; abominable; hateful.

[1375–1425; late Middle English < Middle French < Latin]

de•test`a•bil′i•ty, de•test′a•ble•ness, n.

de•test′a•bly, adv.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Adj.	1.	detestable - offensive to the mind; "an abhorrent deed"; "the obscene massacre at Wounded Knee"; "morally repugnant customs"; "repulsive behavior"; "the most repulsive character in recent novels" abhorrent, repugnant, repulsive, obscene offensive - unpleasant or disgusting especially to the senses; "offensive odors"
	2.	detestable - unequivocally detestable; "abominable treatment of prisoners"; "detestable vices"; "execrable crimes"; "consequences odious to those you govern"- Edmund Burke abominable, odious, execrable hateful - evoking or deserving hatred; "no vice is universally as hateful as ingratitude"- Joseph Priestly

detestable

adjective hateful, shocking, offensive, disgusting, revolting, obscene, vile, obnoxious, despicable, repulsive, abhorred, heinous, odious, repugnant, loathsome, abominable, accursed, execrable, yucky or yukky (slang) I find their racist attitude detestable.

detestable

adjective

So objectionable as to elicit despisal or deserve condemnation:

abhorrent, abominable, antipathetic, contemptible, despicable, despisable, disgusting, filthy, foul, infamous, loathsome, lousy, low, mean, nasty, nefarious, obnoxious, odious, repugnant, rotten, shabby, vile, wretched.

Translations

مَكْروه جِدّاً، مَمْقوت

odpornýohavný

modbydelig

abscheulich

abominable

détestable hideux odieux repoussant répugnant

fyrirlitlegur

abominabile detestabile odioso

iğrenç

可恶的

detestable

[dɪˈtestəbl] ADJ → detestable, aborrecible

detestable

[dɪˈtɛstəb^əl] adj (= loathsome) → détestable, odieux/euse

detestable

adj → widerwärtig, abscheulich; character also → verabscheuungswürdig

detestable

[dɪˈtɛstəbl] adj → detestabile

detest

(diˈtest) verb

to hate intensely. I detest cruelty.

deˈtestable adjective

extremely hateful.

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

When the young Prince saw this, his grief at being thus confined burst out afresh, and, standing near the lion, he said: "O you most detestable of animals

View in context

Here we entered, and I saw three of those detestable creatures, which I first met after my landing, feeding upon roots, and the flesh of some animals, which I afterwards found to be that of asses and dogs, and now and then a cow, dead by accident or disease.

View in context

Instead of letting her take herself off to some other house, as she offered to do when I married, I was fool enough to ask her to live here still, and direct the affairs of the house for me; because, in the first place, I hoped we should spend the greater part of the year, in town, and in the second place, being so young and inexperienced, I was frightened at the idea of having a houseful of servants to manage, and dinners to order, and parties to entertain, and all the rest of it, and I thought she might assist me with her experience; never dreaming she would prove a usurper, a tyrant, an incubus, a spy, and everything else that's detestable.

View in context

Men may seem detestable as joint stock-companies and nations; knaves, fools, and murderers there may be; men may have mean and meagre faces; but man, in the ideal, is so noble and so sparkling, such a grand and glowing creature, that over any ignominious blemish in him all his fellows should run to throw their costliest robes.

View in context

And thus when I reflect on this, I am almost tempted to say that in my heart I repent of having adopted this profession of knight-errant in so detestable an age as we live in now; for though no peril can make me fear, still it gives me some uneasiness to think that powder and lead may rob me of the opportunity of making myself famous and renowned throughout the known earth by the might of my arm and the edge of my sword.

View in context

I found him detestable, and as soon as he was out of danger I had no hesitation in telling him so.

View in context

Several times she made little darts, as if at last resolved to escape from that detestable street, and faltered and returned like a bird to the weasel.

View in context

where superiority of birth breaks out; in which case, we should not think it very improperly applied by any husband whatever, if the application was not in itself so base, that, like certain applications of the physical kind which need not be mentioned, it so much degrades and contaminates the hand employed in it, that no gentleman should endure the thought of anything so low and detestable.

View in context

What is detestable in a pig, is more detestable in a boy.

View in context

Certainly," said I, "this sea is quoted as one of the worst, and in the time of the ancients, if I am not mistaken, its reputation was detestable.

View in context

Is there no risk of having it filched by that detestable Jacob?

View in context

I heard some detestable falsehoods; but none but fools would credit them for a moment, Helen, so don't let them trouble you.