abhor him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "abhor him" is a grammatically correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It means to strongly dislike or hate someone. Example 1: Despite his charming façade, deep down, I cannot help but abhor him for all the harm he has caused. Example 2: The thought of spending another evening with him makes me abhor him even more. Example 3: It's no secret that she abhors him, but for the sake of their children, she puts on a friendly face.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

When he grew old she would abhor him, he told her; she had to love him now, instantly.

The New Yorker

But do Limbaugh's political views cause his detractors to detest him more than Cosell's sports opinions caused viewers to abhor him?

The New York Times - Sports

We had a moral obligation to abhor him, as the Bible makes clear in Amos, "Hate the evil and love the good".

Huffington Post

Some hail former Cuban President Fidel Castro, who died Friday at the age of 90, as a revolutionary hero while others abhor him as a despot.

Vice

It also motivates Miller, apparently, to have people abhor him.

The New York Times - Sports

That is why some old-timers in the party abhor him.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

He presided over a viciously effective police state and came to personify a whole era of bloody despotism during the latter stages of the cold war (see article).The left abhorred him not only because of his brutality but because he overthrew the elected Marxist government of Salvador Allende.

The Economist

And this accurately summed up his magnetism to many who loved and abhorred him.

Huffington Post

She abhorred the damp.

The New York Times

At the same time, she clearly abhors him".

Vice

Norrell calls Washington a "heroic failure," a description that Washington himself would have abhorred: for him, as a pragmatist and a man of action, a "heroic failure" was a contradiction in terms.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "abhor him" when you want to express a strong feeling of dislike or disgust towards a specific person. Ensure the context supports such a strong emotion.

Common error

Avoid using "abhor him" in casual conversation or informal writing, as it can sound overly dramatic or pretentious. Consider milder alternatives like "dislike him" or "can't stand him" for everyday situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "abhor him" functions as a verb phrase where "abhor" is a transitive verb taking "him" as its direct object. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, with examples showing its usage in expressing strong dislike.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "abhor him" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to convey a strong feeling of dislike or disgust. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is most commonly found in news and media contexts, indicating a neutral to slightly formal register. While the phrase is not overly common, it effectively communicates intense aversion. When using "abhor him", be mindful of the context to ensure it aligns with the desired tone and level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

detest him

Replaces "abhor" with "detest", a synonym with a slightly different connotation.

loathe him

Substitutes "abhor" with "loathe", another synonym emphasizing intense dislike.

despise him

Replaces "abhor" with "despise", suggesting a feeling of contempt.

can't stand him

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey strong dislike.

have a strong aversion to him

Employs a more formal and descriptive phrase.

feel repugnance toward him

Uses a more intense and less common term, "repugnance".

find him repulsive

Focuses on the feeling of repulsion.

cannot bear him

Expresses an inability to tolerate him.

have no respect for him

Conveys a lack of respect and admiration.

view him with disdain

Suggests a feeling of superiority and contempt.

FAQs

How can I use "abhor him" in a sentence?

You can use "abhor him" to express a strong feeling of dislike or disgust. For example: "Despite his charming facade, I still "abhor him" for his deceitful actions."

What's the difference between "abhor him" and "dislike him"?

"Abhor him" expresses a much stronger emotion than "dislike him". Abhor implies a deep-seated feeling of revulsion, while dislike is a milder form of aversion.

What can I say instead of "abhor him"?

You can use alternatives like "detest him", "loathe him", or "despise him" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "abhor him" in formal writing?

Yes, "abhor him" can be used in formal writing, but be mindful of the context. It's suitable when you want to emphasize a strong negative feeling towards someone's actions or character. However, ensure that the tone aligns with the overall formality of your piece.