completely abhorrent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "completely abhorrent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is utterly offensive or repulsive. Example: "The actions taken by the organization were completely abhorrent and went against all ethical standards."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"Any use of chemical weapons is completely abhorrent and against all international law," the spokesman said.

The Guardian

The idea of hanging an adversary topsy-turvy from a meat hook is completely abhorrent to me.

The Guardian - Film

Brian Moylan: That's because Jessa found him completely abhorrent, but she was SUPER into making out with Marnie, which I loved.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Inserting a new bit, where a man tells a woman that he finds her so completely abhorrent that he'd rather take his chances with a total stranger, is awkward and disruptive.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"In terms of endgame, this is about looking at how we deter the use of chemical weapons because this is something that is completely abhorrent and against all international law.

The Guardian

"I find the thought of anybody, in particular children, being sexually assaulted completely abhorrent," Dutton said, vowing to work with Nauruan police to build the capacity of local investigators.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

It is totally abhorrent.

The Guardian - Business

The overwhelming majority of Islamic people around the world, I am sure, find this utterly, completely, absolutely abhorrent but there is a problem when these evil atrocities are done in the name of a particular religion".

The Guardian

In addition to that signal, various caucus members were quick to send their own twofold message: the revelations from the Nauru files were completely and utterly abhorrent; and Labor's internal debate over the right policy balance between hardline deterrence and human rights was not over.

The Guardian

I find all this abhorrent.

The Guardian

One Labour MP complained he was "utterly and completely appalled by this abhorrent proposal".

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "completely abhorrent", ensure the context clearly warrants such a strong expression of disapproval. Overuse can dilute its impact, so reserve it for situations that genuinely evoke extreme disgust or moral outrage.

Common error

Avoid using "completely abhorrent" to describe minor inconveniences or disagreements. This phrase carries significant weight and is best reserved for expressing intense moral or ethical repulsion, not trivial matters.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completely abhorrent" functions as an adjectival phrase, intensifying the adjective "abhorrent" to express a strong feeling of revulsion or disgust. As Ludwig AI suggests, it denotes something utterly offensive.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "completely abhorrent" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adjectival phrase designed to convey a powerful sense of disgust or moral repugnance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes something utterly offensive or repulsive. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it's crucial to reserve this strong expression for situations genuinely warranting intense disapproval, avoiding overuse in trivial matters. While alternatives like "utterly detestable" or ""totally repulsive"" exist, "completely abhorrent" maintains a specific level of intensity suited for formal and neutral contexts. Ensure proper usage to maintain its impact and relevance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly detestable

Changes "abhorrent" to "detestable" and "completely" to "utterly", slightly altering the intensity.

totally repulsive

Replaces "abhorrent" with "repulsive", focusing on the disgusting nature of something, and "completely" with "totally".

absolutely loathsome

Substitutes "abhorrent" with "loathsome" to emphasize hatred and replaces "completely" with "absolutely".

thoroughly reprehensible

Uses "reprehensible" instead of "abhorrent", highlighting moral condemnation, and "thoroughly" instead of "completely".

entirely unacceptable

Replaces "abhorrent" with "unacceptable", focusing on a lack of permissibility, and "completely" with "entirely".

wholly offensive

Changes "abhorrent" to "offensive", emphasizing the causing of displeasure, and "completely" to "wholly".

thoroughly disgusting

Substitutes "abhorrent" with "disgusting" to focus on revulsion, and "completely" with "thoroughly".

unreservedly appalling

Replaces "abhorrent" with "appalling" to emphasize shock and dismay, and "completely" with "unreservedly".

patently objectionable

Uses "objectionable" instead of "abhorrent", highlighting strong opposition, and "patently" instead of "completely".

downright awful

Replaces "abhorrent" with "awful", which is a more informal term, and replaces "completely" with "downright".

FAQs

How can I use "completely abhorrent" in a sentence?

Use "completely abhorrent" to describe something that elicits extreme disgust or moral revulsion. For example: "The use of chemical weapons is "completely abhorrent" and against international law."

What's a less formal alternative to "completely abhorrent"?

While "completely abhorrent" is quite strong, you could use phrases like "downright awful" or "totally repulsive" for a slightly less formal tone, depending on the context.

Which is correct, "completely abhorrent" or "utterly abhorrent"?

Both "completely abhorrent" and "utterly abhorrent" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice between them often depends on personal preference or stylistic considerations.

When should I use "completely abhorrent" instead of "unacceptable"?

Use "completely abhorrent" when you want to express not just that something is not allowed or permissible, but that it evokes a strong feeling of disgust or moral outrage. "Entirely unacceptable" is a more neutral expression of disapproval.