Abhor Definition – Meaning and Usage In A Sentence

Sometimes, people learn new words not to improve their English prowess but to add new words to their arsenal to wow their audience. Unfortunately, this tactic sometimes backfires and can make you look confused. Lucky for you, this won’t happen the next time you use the word abhor because we will let you know the abhor definition, meaning and usage.

The word abhor definition is “regard with extreme disgust, aversion, or repulsion.” Another definition is “someone having deep hatred or loathing towards someone else or something.” Other words such as hate, despise, detest, and execrate are words you can use in place of abhor.

Words convey your thoughts to others, and speaking your mind using various new words can make your conversations or write-ups colorful. However, it would help if you struck a balance so that your words don’t sound bland or look like you’re going out of your way to use the word. This article will help you achieve this by showing you how to use the word abhor correctly.

What is the Definition of Abhor?

The word abhor means regarding an object or someone with a high level of contempt, disgust, or aversion. The word is a verb; thus, it should be next to an object. For instance, we can say Kristen abhors chocolate where “abhor” is the action word and “chocolate” is the object.

When you abhor someone or something, it gives you a feeling of utter hatred. Another way of defining the word is to have a physical effect of disgust at something. A great example of abhor is when you see your friend gag due to the extreme hatred they feel for someone.

Here are examples in sentences:

• David said that he doesn’t care that his family abhors his new girlfriend because he loves her and wants to marry her.
• One scholar stated in a public gathering that the government hates corruption because it doesn’t like competition.
• Another tree will grow and fill the void whenever a species goes extinct because nature abhors a vacuum.

Does Abhor Relate with Horror

Do you know that “abhor” also means “regarding something with sheer horror and disgust?” It can also mean the actual shrinking away in horror. However, this definition was used earlier and might not apply in all areas.

When the word abhors is defined, it refers to the distinct hate someone would have or a way of thinking or generally acting because you don’t regard something as morally upright. It’s also important to note that this definition applies in formal situations.

Here are examples in sentences:

• Sally abhors dogs of all kinds, but we later found out she’s allergic to them.
• You should not abhor people due to their race, gender, or sexual orientation because it will only result in war.
• Police have labeled Maria the prime suspect in the murder because of the well-known secret abhor she had for her husband.

What is the Meaning of Abhor?

Another meaning of abhor is to turn away, reject or keep away from something or someone. Such actions result from the utter repulsion, or detestation one feels for something or someone.

You may use this word in situations where you’d like to illustrate the level of hate someone had for something that resulted in them keeping off from it. The term is used chiefly when describing inanimate objects.

Here are examples in sentences:

• Gerald’s love for wildlife conservation and abhor towards poaching have made him a wildlife conservationist.
• Britney’s past experiences with her uncle and some boyfriends made her bitter and abhor men.
• Macy recently told the manager that all the ladies in the office abhor Tyrese because of his behavior towards them.

What’s the Difference Between Abhor and Despise? 

These two words are commonly used together and sometimes as synonyms. However, these words have different meanings. Whereas abhor is an extreme level of loathing and detest, despise is to regard or look down on something or someone; take them as inferior.

To put this in perspective, you can abhor an individual or an object with such intensity that you’d avoid them. However, despise does not necessarily mean hate but a high disregard or scorn because you think that someone or something is unworthy.

Can You Abhor a Person? 

Yes, the word is commonly used to describe a deep dislike or repugnance towards someone else. In formal settings, the word applies in official letters or public speaking. The word is still applicable when describing deep hate towards objects.

Is There a Difference Between Abhor and Hate? 

While there is no difference between abhorring and hate, the latter is regarded as several times more annoying than the latter.

Do Abhor and Indignation Mean the Same? 

These two words describe a deep intense feeling but do so in different contexts. The term “abhor” describes the intense feeling of utter dislike or loathing. However, Indignation is the same kind of anger or hatred caused by an act that someone feels is unfair or unjust. Therefore, despite their similarity, these two words are not the same.

How to Use Abhor in a Sentence

Abhor is used as a noun, adverb, and adjective in different contexts. Learning these forms of the word abhor opens a new way of using the word in your writing.

When Used as a Noun

You may use the word abhor as a noun to become abhorrence, an incredible amount of hate or detestation towards someone or something. Also, use other noun forms of the word, such as abhorrer, meaning one who abhors, and abhorring, which is the continuous form of detestation.

Have a look at the sentences below:

• After the dean asked the group who was responsible for the crime, the abhorrer came out and claimed responsibility.
• When Cate spoke, everyone immediately detected the fear, horror, and sheer abhorrence in his voice

When Used as an Adjective

Use the word abhor as an adjective (abhorrent) to describe the level of abhorring. The word also means something contrary or strongly opposed.

Go through the following sentences to understand that:

• Your mother and I are concerned about your abhorrent behavior and will discuss the appropriate punishment later.
• Once the police opened the door and searched the basement, it was clear where the abhorrent smells came from.

When Used as an Adverb

Abhorrently is the word formed the moment you use the word abhor in its adverb form. The word illustrates that something happened in a manner or extent that it looks abhorrent.

The following sentences should explain further:

• It was appalling to see the group of men show their prejudice so abhorrently in the middle of the street.
• The actions undertaken during the Rwanda massacre can only be described as abhorrently cruel.

10 Examples of Abhor in a Sentence

Use the subsequent ten sentences to familiarize yourself with the different versions of the word abhor. Here we go!

1. It may look like everything is okay on the surface, but the family abhors their father for what he did to them.
2. The gentleman candidly explained how they killed each of the twenty-six women with sheer abhorrence.
3. From the way Amber Heard and Johnny Depp abhor each other, it would be hard to believe that the couple once loved each other.
4. The lioness came out of nowhere and pinned the hyena to the ground abhorrently for trying to take its carcass.
5. One man openly told Mark Cuban that he abhors him and would never want him to join his business.
6. I believe that it will take some time before Russel Westbrook and Kevin Durant stop treating each other with sheer abhorrence.
7. Once Shelly started talking, the entire courtroom listened as she described her ordeal abhorrently.
8. Xavier said he abhors influencers because they only use social platforms without decency.
9. It’s a well-known secret that Paul Pogba abhors Jose Mourino and would rather leave the club than work together with him.
10. I abhor any form of racism and believe that appropriate measures should be taken against the racists.

How Do You Spell Abhor?

You may spell the word abhor as A.B.H.O.R. or \ əb-ˈhȯr, ab- \ according to the I.P.A.

How Do You Pronounce Abhor?

The term abhor is pronounced as [uhb] [hor].

How Many Syllables Are In Abhor?

The word has only two syllables; ab.hor.

History & Etymology of Abhor

At the beginning of the 14th century, the Latin word abhorrere meaning was “to loathe or hold in deep content.” The word was later used to define the act of “shrinking back due to aversion.” Later, the word was used to mean “fill someone with horror or loathing” in the 16th century.

Abhor Synonyms

• Hate
• Detest
• Despise
• Loathe
• Scorn
• Abominate

Abhor Antonyms

• Like
• Love
• Cherish
• Admire
• Approve
• Adore

When Was Abhor First Used?

It’s estimated to have been around the 15th century. There is no specific year that experts point to as the first time the word Abhor was used.

Conclusion

You may want to use a word in your conversation but don’t know where to begin. Before using the new word, please write it down and research it. Next, break it down to its suffixes and prefixes to figure out how to pronounce it. Keep saying the word out loud to grow your confidence with the word. Begin with the word abhor; this article on abhor definition, meaning, and usage expounds on this word fully.