odium

/ˈoʊdiəm/

Other forms: odiums

That shivery feeling of disgust and hatred that you get when you see something senseless and horrible is called odium.

Odium made its way into the English language through Latin, and the word’s root od-, meaning “hatred,” might tip you off that this word involves extreme dislike of some sort. Odium is a little more immediate than hate and usually describes a negative response to a specific action rather than a long-held, sustained hatred. Your dislike of broccoli, for example, wouldn’t be described as odium. Instead, think of odium as hate mixed with repulsion and condemnation, what you feel, for example, if you hear a racist speech or a news story about a terrorist act.

Definitions of odium

1. noun

   hate coupled with disgust
   synonyms: abhorrence, abomination, detestation, execration, loathing

   type of:

   disgust

   strong feelings of dislike

   hate, hatred

   the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action
2. noun

   state of disgrace resulting from detestable behavior
   type of:

   disgrace, ignominy, shame

   a state of dishonor