detestable

[dih-tes-tuh-buhl]

adjective

1. deserving to be detested; abominable; hateful.

   Synonyms: vile, odious, loathsome, abhorrent, execrable

detestable

/ dɪˈtɛstəbəl /

adjective

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

Other Word Forms

• detestably adverb
• detestability noun
• detestableness noun
• undetestability noun
• undetestable adjective
• undetestableness noun
• undetestably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of detestable¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Middle French < Latin dētestābilis, equivalent to dētest ( ārī ) to detest + -ābilis -able

Example Sentences

As a former Houstonian, I can attest that the only thing more detestable than a roach is a flying roach.

From Salon

"Knowing the vulgarity of the old world, today I try to avoid being listened to by the new world – so that I don't come across as detestable," he told the court.

From BBC

As the bored trust fund kid Tara, Lohan drew from her experiences withering away in the California sun to craft a character who was detestable but always sympathetic.

From Salon

Most significantly, it overturned a New York minimum wage law in a decision known as Tipaldo, after its detestable protagonist, the owner of a laundry who had been cheating his laundresses of their legal wages.

From Los Angeles Times

Yes, even detestable speech of that kind should remain as free as possible.

From Salon