detest
verb /dɪˈtest/
/dɪˈtest/
not used in the progressive tensesVerb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they detest | /dɪˈtest/ /dɪˈtest/ |
he / she / it detests | /dɪˈtests/ /dɪˈtests/ |
past simple detested | /dɪˈtestɪd/ /dɪˈtestɪd/ |
past participle detested | /dɪˈtestɪd/ /dɪˈtestɪd/ |
past simple detesting | /dɪˈtestɪŋ/ /dɪˈtestɪŋ/ |
past participle detesting | /dɪˈtestɪŋ/ /dɪˈtestɪŋ/ |
- to hate somebody/something very much synonym loathe
- detest somebody/something They detested each other on sight.
- They absolutely detest each other.
- I loathe and detest racism in any form.
- detest doing something He detests having his photograph taken.
Synonyms hatehateTopics Feelingsc1- dislike
- can’t stand
- despise
- can’t bear
- loathe
- detest
- hate to have a strong feeling of dislike for somebody/something. Although hate is generally a very strong verb, it is also commonly used in spoken or informal English to talk about people or things that you dislike in a less important way, for example a particular type of food: He hates violence in any form. • I’ve always hated cabbage.
- dislike (rather formal) to not like somebody/something. Dislike is a rather formal word; it is less formal, and more usual, to say that you don't like somebody/something, especially in spoken English: I don’t like it when you phone me so late at night.
- can’t stand (rather informal) used to emphasize that you really do not like somebody/something:
- I can’t stand his brother.
- She couldn’t stand being kept waiting.
- despise to dislike and have no respect for somebody/something:
- He despised himself for being so cowardly.
- can’t bear used to say that you dislike something so much that you cannot accept or deal with it:
- I can’t bear having cats in the house.
- loathe to hate somebody/something very much:
- They loathe each other.
- detest (rather formal) to hate somebody/something very much:
- They absolutely detest each other.
- I hate/dislike/can’t stand/can’t bear/loathe/detest doing something.
- I hate/can’t bear to do something.
- I hate/dislike/can’t stand/can’t bear it when…
- I really hate/dislike/can’t stand/despise/can’t bear/detest somebody/something.
- I absolutely hate/can’t stand/loathe/detest somebody/something.
Word Originlate 15th cent.: from Latin detestari, from de- ‘down’ + testari ‘witness, call upon to witness’ (from testis ‘a witness’).