[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/detestable/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [D](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/d/) / detestable # detestable adjective (detestable, more detestable, most detestable) «detestable» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. Very hateful; so bad or nasty that people strongly dislike it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/detestable/#m1) 2. Of a person: behaving so cruelly or meanly that others cannot stand them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/detestable/#m2) ### In the lessons A strong, rather formal word for something you hate, stronger than «nasty» or «horrible». In stories it tells the reader that a character or deed is truly wicked, and that the speaker is very angry or disgusted. Often in «a detestable habit», «detestable behaviour», «a detestable man». In old children's books grown-ups and animals use it in proud, angry speeches. ### Examples - Bullying younger children is a detestable thing to do. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/detestable/#x1) - The villain in the story was a detestable man who stole from the poor. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/detestable/#x2) - My brother has the detestable habit of reading my diary. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/detestable/#x3) - «What a detestable smell!» cried Aunt Mary as she opened the fridge. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/detestable/#x4) - Cheating in a test is detestable because it is unfair to everyone else. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/detestable/#x5) - The Queen thought the game was going detestably, and said so. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/detestable/#x6) - Leaving litter on the beach is a detestable way to treat nature. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/detestable/#x7) - "You are detestable!" exclaimed Babette, bursting into tears. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/detestable/#x8) ### Note Adjective; the adverb is «detestably», the verb is «detest» (to hate) and the noun «detestation». Stress on the second syllable: de-TEST-a-ble. It is a strong word; in everyday talk people more often say «horrible» or «awful». Do not confuse with «delectable», which means delicious. ## In Jewish tradition Describes animals the Torah forbids as food, called a detestable thing, often translated as "sheretz" or "shekketz". **Interpretation.** Tradition holds the forbidden animals are part of the laws of kashrut, which set Israel apart as holy; the Torah gives the rule without a stated reason. ### Examples - All winged swarming things that go upon all fours are a detestable thing unto you. (Torah LEV.11.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/detestable/#x1) - But all winged swarming things, which have four feet, are a detestable thing unto you. (Torah LEV.11.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/detestable/#x2) - Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that is a detestable thing unto you. (Torah LEV.11.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/detestable/#x3) - And I will cast detestable things upon thee, and make thee vile, and will make thee as dung. (Prophets NAM.3.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/detestable/#x4) - Thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy harlotry, on the hills in the field have I seen thy detestable acts. (Prophets JER.13.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/detestable/#x5) - And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. (Prophets EZK.11.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/detestable/#x6) ### Note Adjective; the adverb is «detestably», the verb is «detest» (to hate) and the noun «detestation». Stress on the second syllable: de-TEST-a-ble. It is a strong word; in everyday talk people more often say «horrible» or «awful». Do not confuse with «delectable», which means delicious. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «detestable» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/detestable/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«detestable» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/detestable.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «detestable» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/detestable/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«detestable» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/detestable.html) on Mova free.