What does execration mean?
Execration denotes the act of cursing or denouncing something with intense hatred, and by extension can describe the hated thing itself. It derives from the Latin *exsecrari*, meaning 'to curse' or literally 'to swear against,' combining the prefix *ex-* ('out') with *sacrare* ('to make sacred'), reflecting an ancient idea that a curse set its target apart from the sacred community. The word entered English in the sixteenth century and remains formal and literary in register, appearing more often in historical, religious, or elevated prose than in conversation. One might speak of the universal execration heaped upon a tyrant, or describe a traitor's name as held in execration by his countrymen. Related forms include the verb *execrate* and the adjective *execrable*, meaning utterly detestable. Though rare today, execration carries a weight and gravity that ordinary words like hatred or dislike cannot match, making it valuable for writers seeking solemn, emphatic condemnation.
The act of cursing or denouncing with great hatred; vehement condemnation.
"The treaty was met with execration across the political spectrum."
Formal and literary; often paired with 'universal' or 'public'.
An object of intense loathing; a person or thing cursed or reviled.
"To his former comrades he had become an execration, unfit even for mention."
This sense is less common than the act of cursing itself.
The plural typically refers to multiple instances of cursing or multiple cursed utterances.
"The tomb walls bore execrations against would-be grave robbers."
Execration shares its Latin root with 'excruciating' — both trace back to *exsecrari*, literally to swear against, which is why the most hated things in history were quite literally 'sworn apart' from society.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of execration
Execration comes from the Latin *exsecratio*, formed on the verb *exsecrari*, 'to curse,' from *ex-*, expressing separation or reversal, and *sacer*, 'sacred.' The underlying sense was to swear someone out of, or away from, what is holy — a formal act of religious and social condemnation. The word passed into English via French in the sixteenth century, retaining its solemn force. Its cognates include *execrate* and *execrable* from the same Latin root, while *sacred* itself descends from the related *sacrare*.
Related word forms
How execration is actually used
Execration is a formal, literary word. It is rare in everyday speech but appears in historical, legal, and religious writing where solemn condemnation is being described.
Easily confused with execration
Execution refers to carrying out a plan, task, or death sentence, whereas execration refers to cursing or intense detestation.