What does abominating mean?
"Abominating" is the present participle and gerund of the formal verb "abominate," meaning to regard someone or something with intense hatred, disgust, or loathing. It is stronger than ordinary dislike and suggests moral repugnance: one might be said to be abominating cruelty, hypocrisy, or corruption. The verb derives from the Latin "abominari," meaning to deprecate something as an ill omen, which also gives us the adjective "abominable" and the noun "abomination." In modern usage, "abominate" is comparatively rare and literary, appearing more often in written prose than in casual conversation, where words like "detest," "loathe," or "hate" dominate. When it does appear, it lends writing a weighty, emphatic tone, signaling that the speaker's aversion is deep-seated and principled rather than passing or trivial. Its participial form is typically followed by a direct object naming the thing despised.
verb (present participle and gerund of "abominate")The act of feeling intense dislike, disgust, or hatred toward something; to loathe or detest strongly.
- To feel or express intense hatred, disgust, or loathing toward someone or something.
"He spent his later years abominating the very institutions he had once helped build."
"She made no secret of abominating cruelty of any kind, in word or in deed."
"The reformers were tireless in abominating the corruption they saw around them."
When "abominate" first entered English in the 1600s it was widely believed to come from the phrase "away from man," as if the thing were too horrible for human company — though its true root lies in a Latin word for ill omens.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of abominating
The verb "abominate" comes from the Latin "abominari," formed from "ab-" (away from) plus "omen," meaning to deprecate or denounce something as an ill omen. It entered English in the seventeenth century, alongside its relatives "abominable" and "abomination," which had arrived earlier through Old French from the same Latin source. The shared root "omen" also connects these words to "ominous."
Related word forms
How abominating is actually used
"Abominate" is a formal, somewhat literary verb — rarer than "detest," "loathe," or "abhor." The participle form "abominating" appears most often in written prose rather than everyday speech, typically with a direct object ("abominating injustice"). It carries a strong negative connotation and implies moral revulsion rather than mere dislike.
Easily confused with abominating
"Abominating" is the verb form describing the act of loathing something, while "abominable" is an adjective describing something worthy of being loathed.