execrate

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/ˈɛɡzɪkɹeɪt//ˈɛksɪkɹeɪt/

verb

To feel loathing for; to abhor.

Similar
anathematizecomminatecursedamnimprecatemaledictobdurateabhor
OriginLatin exsecrārī →
Scrabble 17
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Meanings

verbexecrate (third-person singular simple present execrates, present participle execrating, simple past and past participle execrated)

present singular third person execrates · participle present execrating · participle past execrated · past execrated

  1. transitiveTo feel loathing for; to abhor.

    Yet she appeared confident in innocence, and did not tremble, although gazed on and execrated by thousands ; […]

    1816 June – 1817 April/May (date written), [Mary Shelley], chapter VII, in Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. […], volume I, London: […] [Macdonald and Son] for Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones, published 1 January 1818, →OCLC, page 161
    1 more example

    And were I not a thing for you and me To execrate in anguish, you would be As indigent a stranger to surprise, I fear, as I was once, and as unwise.

    1932, Edwin Arlington Robinson, “Prodigal Son”, in Nicodemus, page 66
  2. transitiveTo declare to be hateful or abhorrent; to denounce.

    Synonyms: anathematize, comminate, curse, damn, imprecate, maledict, obdurate

  3. archaicintransitiveTo invoke a curse; to curse or swear.

    He longed to execrate aloud, to bring his fist down on something violently.

    1904–1907 (date written), James Joyce, “Counterparts”, in Dubliners, London: Grant Richards, published June 1914, →OCLC, page 109

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo declare to be hateful or abhorrent; to denounce.

Similar
anathematizecomminatecursedamnimprecatemaledictobdurate

More synonyms by meaning

verbfind repugnant

Similar
abhorloatheabominate
Broader
hatedetest

verbcurse or declare to be evil or anathema or threaten with divine punishment

Similar
accurseanathemizecomminateanathemiseanathematizeanathematise
Broader
deplore
Also see
abhorabominateaccurseanathematizeanathemizecomminatecursedamnhateloathespiteswear

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinexsecrārī
  2. Englishexecrate

From Latin exsecrārī, execrārī, from ex (“out”) + sacrāre (“to consecrate, declare accursed”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian отвращавам се, ненавиждам
  • отвращавам се (otvraštavam se)to feel loathing for
  • ненавиждам (nenaviždam)to declare to be hateful or abhorrent; denounce
  • проклинам (proklinam)(archaic) to invoke a curse
French exécrer
  • exécrerto feel loathing for
German verabscheuen
  • verabscheuento feel loathing for
Latin exsecror, exsecror
  • exsecrorto feel loathing for
  • exsecrorto declare to be hateful or abhorrent; denounce
Polish nienawidzić, pomstować
  • nienawidzićto feel loathing for
  • pomstowaćto declare to be hateful or abhorrent; denounce
  • złorzeczyćto declare to be hateful or abhorrent; denounce
  • przeklinać(archaic) to invoke a curse
  • przekląć(archaic) to invoke a curse
Spanish execrar, execrar
  • execrarto feel loathing for
  • execrarto declare to be hateful or abhorrent; denounce

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

excreate
Cite this entry
APA

execrate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/execrate

MLA

“execrate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/execrate. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “execrate,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/execrate.

Source: execrate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.