abhor to

USAGE SUMMARY

'abhor to' is not a correct phrase in written English.
The correct phrase is 'abhor doing' or 'abhor something'. For example, “I abhor doing laundry.”.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It reduces the sacrifice which you affect to revere or the unimaginable suffering you affect to abhor to minuscule levels.

The Guardian - Sport

In January he was shown on state television apologising (an act that Chinese leaders usually abhor) to victims of snow-storms that paralysed large areas of the south.

The Economist

But I would also defend the rights of those whose behaviour I might abhor to a fair trial, and to the protection of the convention – even if that's not what they would offer me.

The Guardian - Opinion

Need one mention that he is subject to this other tribunal, that of public opinion, which has already singled him out and which, frivolous and capricious, equally ready to adore as to abhor, to pass from mere suspicion to inflamed ire, to entertain conspiracy theories as to acknowledge courage, has already begun looking for nits to pick, suspecting him of dark hidden motives.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

To love nature, in this absolutist paradigm, is to abhor business, to reject capitalism and by extension America itself.

The New York Times - Books

"Slaughterhouse-Five", published in 1969 against the backdrop of racial unrest and the Vietnam war, propelled him from science-fiction writer (a label he abhorred) to literary icon.

The Economist

If he seems to possess a vivid reality if he seems, to use a phrase Gass would have abhorred, to leap from the page that is because James pulled off a trick.

The New Yorker

The way to get to Brown, and many other civil-rights decisions that we now take for granted, is through a willingness to do what Scalia abhors — to translate the fundamental principles of the Constitution into contemporary terms, to embrace the "living Constitution," to allow courts to decide how values enshrined in the Constitution ought to be applied to modern life.

The New Yorker

Rinnuci was abhorred to discover that Jan Josef, Count of Breuner and Archbishop of Prague, was among his creditors.

Wikipedia

For nine years after the attacks of Sept. 11, many American Muslims made concerted efforts to build relationships with non-Muslims, to make it clear they abhor terrorism, to educate people about Islam and to participate in interfaith service projects.

The New York Times

Rinella ends his book with what might be an audacious claim: "To abhor hunting is to hate the place from which you came, which is akin to hating yourself in some distant, abstract way".

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "abhor to"; instead, use "abhor" followed by a noun or gerund (e.g., "abhor violence", "abhor lying").

Common error

Don't follow "abhor" with "to" + verb (infinitive form); use a gerund or a direct object instead. The correct forms are "abhor doing something" or "abhor something".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of the phrase "abhor to", though incorrect, seems intended to function as a verb expressing strong dislike or aversion. As Ludwig AI states, this is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "abhor to" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the correct usage is to follow "abhor" with a noun or a gerund. While the search results do provide some examples of the phrase in use, these are best regarded as errors to be avoided. Instead, consider using alternatives like "detest" or "loathe". The phrase appears most often in News & Media, and its incorrectness detracts from its suitability for formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abhor doing

Corrects the grammatical structure to use a gerund after "abhor".

detest

Expresses strong dislike, similar to abhor but without the preposition.

loathe

Indicates intense dislike or disgust.

despise

Suggests looking down on something with contempt.

dislike intensely

Replaces "abhor" with a more descriptive phrase.

have a strong aversion to

Emphasizes a feeling of repugnance or avoidance.

cannot stand

Informal way to express strong dislike.

find repugnant

Focuses on the repulsive nature of something.

shrink from

Suggests recoiling from something unpleasant.

have no stomach for

Indicates a lack of willingness to experience something.

FAQs

How to properly use "abhor" in a sentence?

Use "abhor" followed by a noun (e.g., "I abhor injustice") or a gerund (e.g., "I abhor lying"). Avoid using "abhor to".

What can I say instead of "abhor to"?

Since "abhor to" is grammatically incorrect, use alternatives like "detest", "loathe", or "despise" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "abhor to do" or "abhor doing"?

"Abhor doing" is the correct form. "Abhor to do" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "abhor" and "hate"?

"Abhor" and "hate" both express strong dislike, but "abhor" suggests a deeper sense of disgust or revulsion. You can use "hate" as an alternative if the intensity of the feeling doesn't need to be as strong.