detest
gb/dɪtˈɛst/ us/dɪtˈɛst/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
C1
state
1
hate intensely
To hate something or someone a lot.
Usage pattern:
detest [someone/something]; detest doing [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use it too casually; it is stronger and more formal than 'dislike' and often stronger than everyday 'hate'.
Synonyms
hate (More common and less formal.)
|
loathe (Very strong; often suggests disgust.)
|
despise (Often includes a sense of looking down on someone or something.)
Antonyms
love (Feel strong positive affection instead of strong dislike.)
|
like (Feel positive or mild approval instead of strong dislike.)
Collocations
detest someone
|detest something
|detest doing something
|really detest
|absolutely detest
|detest it when
|detest the taste of
|detest the sound of
|detest waiting
|detest being told what to do
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|opinions
Examples
- He detests crowded places and avoids rush hour whenever he can.
- I detest being interrupted when I’m trying to concentrate.
- She detested the bitter aftertaste of the medicine.
Learner examples
- I detest waking up early.
- He detests loud music.
Verb
formal
C1
state
2
hate as morally wrong
To strongly hate something because you think it is bad or wrong.
Usage pattern:
detest [behavior/idea/practice]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with 'protest' or 'detect'; pronunciation and meaning are different.
Synonyms
abhor (More formal; emphasizes moral disgust.)
|
condemn (Focuses on stating strong disapproval rather than feeling hatred.)
|
deplore (Formal; expresses strong regret and disapproval.)
Antonyms
approve of (Think something is acceptable or good rather than wrong.)
|
endorse (Publicly support rather than strongly oppose.)
Collocations
detest hypocrisy
|detest cruelty
|detest racism
|detest corruption
|detest violence
|detest injustice
|detest discrimination
|detest dishonesty
|detest bullying
|detest the practice of
Themes
emotions
|morality
|society
Examples
- She detests cruelty to animals and won’t support businesses that ignore it.
- Many voters detest political corruption, even when it benefits their side.
- He detested the casual sexism he heard at work.
Learner examples
- They detest racism.
- I detest lying.
Grammar
Dictionary form
detest
IPA
GB/dɪtˈɛst/
US/dɪtˈɛst/
Syllables & stress
de - test (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (test)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: detest
- 3rd Person Singular: detests
- Present Participle: detesting
- Past: detested
Word family
Forms
detests
verb
detesting
verb
detested
verb
Core family
detestable
adjective C1
Advanced or less common
detestation
noun
detestably
adverb
Expressions
detest [someone/something] with a passion
1/dɪtˈɛst sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ wˈɪθ ə pˈæʃən/
fixed phrase
hate extremely strongly
To hate someone or something a lot.
Examples
- She detests dishonesty with a passion.
- I detest that song with a passion—it’s been stuck in my head for days.
- He detested being patronized with a passion.
detest the idea of [something]
1/dɪtˈɛst ðə aɪdˈiə əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
strongly hate a possible plan
To hate thinking about doing something.
Examples
- I detest the idea of moving again so soon.
- She detested the idea of asking her parents for money.
- They detest the idea of working weekends.
detest the thought of [something]
1/dɪtˈɛst ðə θˈɔt əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
strongly hate imagining something
To hate thinking about something bad happening.
Examples
- He detested the thought of leaving his dog behind.
- She detests the thought of speaking in public.
- We detested the thought of wasting all that food.