abomination

abomination 1 abhorrence, detestation, loathing, hatred, hate (see under HATE vb)

Analogous words: scorn, despite, contempt, disdain (see under DESPISE): execration, objurgation (see corresponding verbs at EXECRATE)

Antonyms: esteem: enjoyment

Contrasted words: admiration, respect, *regard: relish, gusto, zest, *taste

2 Abomination, anathema, bugbear, bête noire agree in meaning a person or thing from which one shrinks with intense dislike.

Something is an abomination that provokes loathing, disgust, and extreme displeasure

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lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight— Prov 12:22

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a wonderful wooden statue . . . now replaced by the usual metal abomination— Norman Douglas

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Something is anathema (or an anathema) to one when it is banned from one’s presence or dismissed from one’s mind as being odious or beyond the pale. The word in this sense is always reminiscent of St. Paul’s use

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if any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema— 1 Cor 16:22

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had a flair for new writers. They were as welcome to him as they were anathema to most editors of that day— Repplier

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all plays are anathema to him, and he even disapproves of dancing bears— Quiller-Couch

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Something is a bugbear to one when one anticipates encountering it with detestation and dread and therefore tries to evade or avoid it; often but not invariably the word connotes an imaginary basis for one’s fears

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what is the dire necessity and “iron” law under which men groan? Truly, most gratuitously invented bugbears— T. H. Huxley

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but to the world no bugbear is so great, as want of figure, and a small estate— Popey

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One’s bête noire is one’s pet aversion, a person or thing one habitually or particularly avoids, often with superstitious fear

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truth . . . the breath of the poet, the vision of the artist and prophet, the quarry of the scientist . . . the toy of the careless, the bête noire of the politician— Forumy

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Analogous words: plague, pest, annoyance (see corresponding verbs at WORRY): aversion, *antipathy

Antonyms: joy

Contrasted words: delight, *pleasure, delectation: gratification, regalement (see corresponding verbs at PLEASE)