Etymology

First attested in 1449, from Middle EnglishCategory:English terms inherited from Middle English#ABHORCategory:English terms derived from Middle English#ABHOR abhorren, borrowed from Middle FrenchCategory:English terms derived from Middle French#ABHOR abhorrer, from LatinCategory:English terms derived from Latin#ABHOR abhorreō (“shrink away from in horror”), from ab- (“from”) +‎ horreō (“stand aghast, bristle with fear”).^[1]

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /əbˈhɔː/, /əbˈɔː/Category:English 2-syllable words#ABHORCategory:English 2-syllable words#ABHORCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#ABHOR

  • Audio (UK):

    (file)

    Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#ABHOR

  • Audio (General Australian):

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    Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#ABHOR
• (General American) IPA^(key): /æbˈhɔɹ/, /əbˈhɔɹ/Category:English 2-syllable words#ABHORCategory:English 2-syllable words#ABHORCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#ABHOR

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

    Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#ABHOR

  • Audio (Canada):

    (file)

    Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#ABHOR
• (Indic) IPA^(key): /əˈbhor/, [ə.bʱoː(ɾ)]Category:English 2-syllable words#ABHORCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#ABHOR
• Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)Category:Rhymes:English/ɔː(ɹ)#ABHORCategory:Rhymes:English/ɔː(ɹ)/2 syllables#ABHOR

Verb

abhor (third-person singular simple present abhors, present participle abhorring, simple past and past participle abhorred)Category:English lemmas#ABHORCategory:English verbs#ABHORCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#ABHORCategory:Pages with entries#ABHORCategory:Pages with 1 entry#ABHOR

1. (transitiveCategory:English transitive verbs#ABHOR) To regard (someone or something) as horrifying or detestable; to feel great repugnance toward. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).]^[2]

   Synonyms: detest, disdain, loathe

   I absolutely abhor being stuck in traffic jams.Category:English terms with usage examples#ABHOR

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Romans 12:9:

     Let loue bee without dissimulation: abhorre that which is euill, cleaue to that which is good.

     Category:English terms with quotations#ABHOR

   • 1975 March 21, Judy Klemesrud, “Vegetarianism: Growing Way of Life, Especially Among the Young”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN, archived from the original on 2 November 2025:

     Many vegetarians abhor the thought of killing animals to feed themselves and also the methods by which animals are slaughtered.

     Category:English terms with quotations#ABHOR

   • 2003 April 20, Henry G. Brinton, “A Congregation Divided”, in The Washington Post‎, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 28 January 2024‎:

     I have risked alienating some members with criticism of the war, reminding them, for example, that the Lord abhors our worship of the false gods of Western affluence, worldly power and high technology. I agree with Michael J. Easley, the senior pastor-teacher of Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, when he says, "I think my 'job' is to clearly teach the Scriptures, not be persuaded by what may or may not be our people's views."

     Category:English terms with quotations#ABHOR

2. (transitiveCategory:English transitive verbs#ABHOR, obsoleteCategory:English terms with obsolete senses#ABHOR, impersonalCategory:English impersonal verbs#ABHOR) To fill with horror or disgust. [Attested from the mid 16^th century until the early 17^th century.]^[2]
   • c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii], page 332, column 2:

     But neuer taynt my Loue. I cannot say Whore,
     It do's abhorre me now I speake the word,
     To do the Act, that might the addition earne,
     Not the worlds Masse of vanitie could make me.

     Category:English terms with quotations#ABHOR

3. (transitiveCategory:English transitive verbs#ABHOR) To turn aside or avoid; to keep away from; to reject.
4. (transitiveCategory:English transitive verbs#ABHOR, canon law, obsoleteCategory:English terms with obsolete senses#ABHOR) To protest against; to reject solemnly.
   • 1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv], page 216, column 2:

     I vtterly abhorre; yea, from my Soule
     Refuse you for my Iudge, whom yet once more
     I hold my most malicious Foe, and thinke not
     At all a Friend to truth.

     Category:English terms with quotations#ABHOR

5. (intransitiveCategory:English intransitive verbs#ABHOR, obsoleteCategory:English terms with obsolete senses#ABHOR) To feel horror, disgust, or dislike (towards); to be contrary or averse (to); construed with from. [Attested from the mid 16^th century until the mid 17^th century.]^[2]
   • 1531, Thomas Elyot, “That all daunsinge is nat to be reproued”, in Ernest Rhys, editor, The Boke Named the Governour […] (Everyman’s Library), London: J[oseph] M[alaby] Dent & Co; New York, N.Y.: E[dward] P[ayson] Dutton & Co, published [1907], →OCLC, 1st book, page 86:

     Also in those daunces were enterlased dities of wanton loue or ribaudry, with frequent remembrance of the moste vile idolis Venus and Bacchus, as it were that the daunce were to their honour and memorie, whiche most of all abhorred from Christes religion, sauerynge the auncient errour of paganysme.

     Category:English terms with quotations#ABHOR

   • 1644, J[ohn] M[ilton], chapter VII, in The Doctrine or Discipline of Divorce: […], 2nd edition, London: [s.n.], →OCLC, book II, page 46:

     Either then the law by harmless and needful dispenses, which the gospel is now made to deny, must have anticipated and exceeded the grace of the gospel, or else must be found to have given politic and superficial graces without real pardon, saying in general, “do this and live,” and yet deceiving and damning underhand with unsound and hollow permissions; which is utterly abhorring from the end of all law, as hath been shewed.

     Category:English terms with quotations#ABHOR

6. (intransitiveCategory:English intransitive verbs#ABHOR, obsoleteCategory:English terms with obsolete senses#ABHOR) Differ entirely from. [Attested from the mid 16^th century until the late 17^th century.]^[2]

References

• “abhor”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “abhor”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.

Anagrams

• Bohra, Borah, broha