Words / C2

OHD-ee-uh-s/ˈəʊdiəs/

Odious means extremely unpleasant and deserving hatred: odious remarks, an odious policy. Hateful is everyday; repulsive and loathsome are close; nasty is far weaker. Formal, moral heat. In speech, hateful or disgusting is enough. Odious judges character or conduct, not a mildly ugly building. Do not sprinkle it on ordinary annoyances; the word is a moral sledgehammer.

Meaning

Extremely unpleasant; deserving hatred.

Examples

• “The odious remarks had no place in class.”
• “The odious remarks had no place in class, joke or not.”
• “An odious clause in the contract shifted all risk to the intern.”

Good to know

Hateful; morally disgusting (formal, strong). Everyday: hateful. Close: loathsome. Of conduct, speech, or policy. Not a mild dislike.

Near in meaning

loathsome

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