detest

UK: /dɪˈtɛst/ US: /dɪˈtɛst/ ,(di test′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

de•test /dɪˈtɛst/   v. 

1. to feel great hatred for; hate: [~ + object]
   They detest war.
   [~ + verb-ing]
   I detest jogging.

de•test•a•ble, adj.: 

Selfishness is a detestable quality.

de•tes•ta•tion /ˌditɛˈsteɪʃən/  n. [uncountable] See -test-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

de•test  (di test′), v.t. 

1. to feel abhorrence of;
   hate;
   dislike intensely.

• Latin dētestārī to call down a curse upon, loathe, equivalent. to dē- de- + testārī to bear witness; see testate
• Middle French detester
• 1525–35

de•test′er, n. 
Synonyms

abhor, loathe, abominate, execrate, despise. See hate. 

Antonyms

love, like.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

detest / dɪˈtɛst/ verb

1. (transitive) to dislike intensely; loathe

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin dētestārī to curse (while invoking a god as witness), from de- + testārī to bear witness, from testis a witness

deˈtester noun