hor-, horr-

1. To shrink away from in fear, disgust, or hatred; to detest, to hate: "The cat abhors the sound of fog horns because it hurts his ears."
2. To disapprove of or to reject something very strongly: "Kay's neighbor has always abhorred loud music because it causes him to have severe headaches."

"The family was abhorring the very thought of having to move again."

3. Etymology: from Latin abhorrere, "to shrink back from, to have an aversion for, to shudder at"; from ab-. "away" + horrere, "to tremble at, to shudder"; literally, "to bristle, to be shaggy".

Detested, hated: "Stephen refused to take part in the meeting with that abhorred guy."

"The abhorred smell from the open sewer was offensive and finally caused the local government to make some public health improvements."

1. Someone or something that is strongly or intensely disapproved of: "Gertrude had an irrational abhorrence of snakes."
2. That which is disgusting, loathsome, or repellent: "The first mate on the ship had an abhorrence for the smell of the water in the bilge."
3. A feeling of repugnance or loathing about someone or something: "The biologist's multiple abhorrences for reptiles and spiders will make it difficult for him to do much research when he goes to Africa next month."

1. Anything that arouses strong feelings of repugnance or disapproval about people, situations, or things: "Even thinking about failing was an abhorrent idea for Scott to consider."

"Ronald's sister had an abhorrent dislike of insects and other 'creepy things' which helped to determine the direction of her scientific studies."

2. That which is incompatible with or conflicting with something: "The abhorrent violence at the start of the film was so disgusting and loathsome that the couple got up and walked out."

A description of intense disapproval or dislike of something: "There was something abhorrently unacceptable and vulgar about Elsie's behavior at the party last night."

"The supervisor's abhorrently despicable behavior after work was in contrast to Donald's mild demeanor while he was working, which made his fellow workers think of him as a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde character."

Someone who regards others, or certain things, with extreme repugnance: "The prison guard was an abhorrer of those who attempted to escape."

"Mark was an abhorrer of all things violent and harmful."

"The two clergymen were abhorrers of the extreme poverty in which many of their congregational members lived."

1. Significantly unpleasant, frightening, or shocking so as to provoke dread: "When the drivers were suddenly in the thick fog and smoke from the brush fires, they knew they were in a horrendous situation."
2. Very large, great, or high, often unreasonably or excessively so: "The horrendous economic conditions around the world are causing all kinds of demonstrations against governments and businesses."
3. Hideous; dreadful; shockingly dreadful: "After the hurricane, the neighborhood was scattered with horrendous destruction."

A reference to that which is dreadful or terrible: "The actors were horrendously criticized for their horrendous performance."

Standing up like bristles, bristling hair on a person's body that is caused by an intense feeling or shock: "When the children were riding home on the bus, the driver had to make a horrent swerve to avoid hitting a car that made a sudden stop in front of it."

"The manager made a horrent discovery when she saw that the office computer had been stolen during the night."

Expressing or showing terror: "The horrent warnings that a murderer had escaped from prison terrorized the nearby residents."

Slang for the potential for something to become terrible or very shocking: "The horribility of traveling on the highway during the suddenly blinding snow storm caused intense fears among the drivers."

1. Very bad, unpleasant, or unsightly: "The accidents on the highway during the snowstorm were horrible sights."
2. Sufficiently frightening, distressing, or shocking so as to provoke suffering: "The flood caused the sewer to send out a horrible odor."
3. Unkind, rude, or ill-behaved: "The horrible behavior of the drunk on the sidewalk resulted in his being arrested by the police."
4. Arousing or tending to arouse dreadful feelings: "After the conviction of the accused murderers, the judge stated that it was difficult to conceive of a more despicable, more heinous, more despicable, or more horrible crime."

1. In a distressing, or shocking way: "The horribly tasting food disgusted the customers at the restaurant."
2. To a great or excessive extent: "When the big cruise ship ran into the rocks off shore from the island, the passengers were horribly neglected by the captain and crew."

1. Exceedingly bad: "She said something horrid to her father."
2. Grossly offensive to decency or morality: "The radio reporter presented some horrid reports about citizens being shot by the military during their peaceful demonstrations."
3. Provoking disgust or extreme displeasure: "The rancid soup had a horrid taste."

An action which takes place in a dreadfully, shockingly, unpleasantly, or in an unkindly manner: "The police were accused of horridly mistreating the demonstrating students by pepper spraying them in the eyes."