detest
verb
de·test di-ˈtest 
dē-
detested; detesting; detests
transitive verb
1
: to feel intense and often violent antipathy toward : loathe
detests politics
They seem to truly detest each other.
2
obsolete : curse, denounce
detester noun
Synonyms
- abhor
- abominate
- despise
- execrate
- hate
- loathe
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
I detest pepperoni, and wouldn't eat it if you paid me!
Recent Examples on the Web Many gardeners detest this plant, while a few actually like it. 
Janet Carson, Arkansas Online, 9 May 2022 The Lakers and the league are said to detest the series’ existence, too, with NBA lawyers already reaching out to HBO about the use of trademarks and logos well ahead of the show’s premiere. Lacey Rose, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Apr. 2022 Among those who have voiced concern loudly enough to gain public attention is state Sen. Duey Stroebel, R-Cedarburg, who Lahner listed as someone who seems to detest the tool as policy. Jim Riccioli, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2022 This sympathy is particularly strong among young Poles, many of whom detest the Law and Justice party and strongly support the European Union. New York Times, 18 Mar. 2022 Polling shows Americans widely detest the practice: 75 percent would prefer to end it, according to an October poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2022 Polling shows Americans widely detest the practice: 75 percent would prefer to end it, according to an October poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Erin Cox, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Feb. 2022 The city of Chicago signed over its parking business to a private company on a 75-year contract, a short-term financial windfall that residents will detest for generations. Scott Tobias, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2021 But if takeout was just like us, why did my father detest it so much? Jenny Liao, Bon Appétit, 30 Mar. 2021 See More
Janet Carson, Arkansas Online, 9 May 2022 The Lakers and the league are said to detest the series’ existence, too, with NBA lawyers already reaching out to HBO about the use of trademarks and logos well ahead of the show’s premiere. Lacey Rose, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Apr. 2022 Among those who have voiced concern loudly enough to gain public attention is state Sen. Duey Stroebel, R-Cedarburg, who Lahner listed as someone who seems to detest the tool as policy. Jim Riccioli, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2022 This sympathy is particularly strong among young Poles, many of whom detest the Law and Justice party and strongly support the European Union. New York Times, 18 Mar. 2022 Polling shows Americans widely detest the practice: 75 percent would prefer to end it, according to an October poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2022 Polling shows Americans widely detest the practice: 75 percent would prefer to end it, according to an October poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Erin Cox, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Feb. 2022 The city of Chicago signed over its parking business to a private company on a 75-year contract, a short-term financial windfall that residents will detest for generations. Scott Tobias, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2021 But if takeout was just like us, why did my father detest it so much? Jenny Liao, Bon Appétit, 30 Mar. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle French detester or Latin detestari; Middle French detester, from Latin detestari, literally, to curse while calling a deity to witness, from de- + testari to call to witness — more at testament
First Known Use
circa 1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
detest
verb
de·test di-ˈtest
detested; detesting
: to dislike very much
detesting
verb
as in hating
to dislike strongly I detest pepperoni, and wouldn't eat it if you paid me! Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- hating
- abhorring
- loathing
- despising
- abominating
- disdaining
- execrating
- having it in for
- deploring
- scorning
- deprecating
- discountenancing
- disapproving (of)
- disfavoring
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- loving
- preferring
- desiring
- enjoying
- liking
- favoring
- fancying
- admiring
- relishing
- worshiping
- worshipping
- adoring
- approving (of)
- cherishing
- revering
- idolizing
- esteeming
- venerating
- treasuring
- hallowing
- prizing