detestable

adjective

de·​test·​able di-ˈte-stə-bəl How to pronounce detestable (audio)
dē-
: arousing or meriting intense dislike : abominable
detestableness noun
detestably adverb

Examples of detestable in a Sentence

He is a detestable villain. the detestable actions of a nasty little man
Recent Examples on the Web What’s more, a loss at Hell in a Cell could also force McIntyre to become an even more detestable heel in the weeks and months ahead. Blake Oestriecher, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024 As if being Jewish had become something really murky, vaguely suspect, possibly detestable. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 7 Aug. 2024 For a Black girl living during one of the worst periods of race relations in America, these were the detestable but sadly predictable terms of engagement. Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2024 The quiet yet profound orangutan Maurice is as lovable as Koba, the villainous ape who betrays his fellow simians, is detestable, and Serkis’s Caesar stands as the film’s MVP. Barry Levitt, Vulture, 10 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for detestable 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'detestable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of detestable was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near detestable

Cite this Entry

“Detestable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detestable. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

detestable

adjective
de·​test·​able di-ˈtes-tə-bəl How to pronounce detestable (audio)
: arousing or deserving strong dislike : abominable

More from Merriam-Webster on detestable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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