execrate

verb

ex·​e·​crate ˈek-sə-ˌkrāt How to pronounce execrate (audio)
execrated; execrating

transitive verb

1
: to declare to be evil or detestable : denounce
2
: to detest utterly
execrative adjective
execrator noun

Did you know?

To Latinists, there's nothing cryptic about the origins of execrate-the word derives from exsecratus, the past participle of the Latin verb exsecrari, meaning "to put under a curse." Exsecrari was itself created by combining the prefix ex- ("not") and the word sacer ("sacred"). Sacer is also an ancestor of such English words as sacerdotal ("relating to priests"), sacral ("holy or sacred"), sacrifice, sacrilege, and of course sacred itself. There's also execration, which, true to its exsecrari roots, means "the act of cursing" or "the curse so uttered."

Examples of execrate in a Sentence

She came to execrate the hypocritical values of her upper-class upbringing. leaders from around the world execrated the terrorists responsible for the bomb blast
Recent Examples on the Web Many Democrats striving to replace Donald Trump are, while execrating him, paying him the sincerest form of flattery: imitation. George Will, Twin Cities, 7 July 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'execrate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin exsecratus, past participle of exsecrari to put under a curse, from ex + sacr-, sacer sacred

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of execrate was in 1531

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Dictionary Entries Near execrate

Cite this Entry

“Execrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/execrate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

execrate

verb
ex·​e·​crate ˈek-sə-ˌkrāt How to pronounce execrate (audio)
execrated; execrating
1
: to declare to be evil
2
: to dislike very strongly : abhor
execration
ˌek-sə-ˈkrā-shən
noun
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