Antonyms for detest
dɪˈtɛstde·test

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.2 / 5 votes

1. detest

   Abhor is stronger than despise, implying a shuddering recoil, especially a moral recoil. "How many shun evil as inconvenient who do not abhor it as hateful." Trench Serm. in Westm. Abbey xxvi, 297. [Murray's "New English Dictionary"] Detest expresses indignation, with something of contempt. Loathe implies disgust, physical or moral. We abhor a traitor, despise a coward, detest a liar. We dislike an uncivil person. We abhor cruelty, hate tyranny. We loathe a reptile or a flatterer. We abhor Milton's heroic Satan, but we can not despise him.

   Antonyms:
   admire, approve, covet, crave, desire, enjoy, esteem, esteem, like, love, relish

   Synonyms:
   abhor, abominate, despise, dislike, hate, loathe, nauseate, scorn, shun

Matched Categories

1. • Dislike

Princeton's WordNetRate this antonym:3.0 / 1 vote

1. hate, detestverb

   dislike intensely; feel antipathy or aversion towards

   "I hate Mexican food"; "She detests politicians"

   Synonyms:
   hate

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. detestverb

   Synonyms:
   loathe, despise, abominate, abhor, hate, execrate

How to use detest in a sentence?

1. Stephen Leacock:

   I detest life-insurance agents; they always argue that I shall some day die, which is not so.

2. J. K. Rowling:

   Bigotry is probably the thing I detest most.

3. Ron Prosor:

   It is time for the international community to take a clear stand against those who build the foundations of terror by teaching children to detest and despise, this must start by speaking out against incitement in Palestinian society.

4. H.L. Mencken:

   I never lecture, not because I am shy or a bad speaker, but simply because I detest the sort of people who go to lectures and don't want to meet them.

5. Homer:

   I detest that man who hides one thing in the depths of his heart, and speaks for another.

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