Synonyms: Awful

If the north had eliminated slavery, one day the abominable institution would fall everywhere. The Underground Railroad: A Novel

“I recommend Batman especially, for he tends to transcend the abysmal society in which he’s found himself. His morality is rather rigid, also. I rather respect Batman.” A Confederacy of Dunces

I brought up the appalling behavior at Sebokeng and the police’s unequal treatment of blacks and whites; police used live ammunition with black demonstrators, while they never unsheathed their guns at white right-wing protests. Long Walk to Freedom

The movie brought me back to the atrocious conflicts I had witnessed in my own life, and I needed some air. How Dare the Sun Rise

The Trunchbull had returned to her place in front of the class, and her diabolical gaze was moving slowly along the rows of tiny pupils. Matilda

“He’s escaping through the sewers. The game has smell-a-vision. You ever smell a medieval sewer? Trust me, it is foul and disgusting.” Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

“Sixteen verses, no more. And oh, Lord! I had forgotten how dreadful it is—no single tone of encouragement. Maybe Liza’s right. There’s nothing to understand.” East of Eden

The mere sound of that execrable, ugly name made his blood run cold and his breath come in labored gasps. Catch-22

The crow pushes its head into my mouth and I bite hard, tasting something foul. Divergent

There were reports of frightful American casualties—some newspaper said that two thousand American soldiers were being killed and wounded every day. The Chosen

And there they sat, these two ghastly hags, sipping their drinks, and every now and again screaming at James to chop faster and faster. James and the Giant Peach

But we bombarded Mr. Dussel with questions, and the stories he had to tell were so gruesome and dreadful that we can’t get them out of our heads. The Diary of a Young Girl

I was conscious of the unfairness of accusing a man of hideous crimes when he could not answer questions or defend himself. Killers of the Flower Moon

From the outside, it looks horrendous—one moment, the Phoenix Riders’ dorm still standing; the next, a deafening explosion and an orange ball of fire erupting from the roof of our atrium. Warcross

Cringing with fear, the monsters of Ignorance turned in flight and, with anguished cries too horrible ever to forget, returned to the damp, dark places from which they came. The Phantom Tollbooth

He was homely and plain, and he had a terrible holler and a horrid smell. Sarah, Plain and Tall

She was a lamentable splotch, her black hair and brown skin and green shirt and blue jeans and purple backpack a speck in this eternal whiteness. Breadcrumbs

The objection to such racist explanations is not just that they are loathsome, but also that they are wrong. Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies

"That RAT! That lousy rotten stinking RAT of a sister!" he shouted. The Lemonade War

She said it in a nasty voice, but it was the first time anyone had spoken to me in weeks, so I decided to answer her. The Lions of Little Rock

She did not try to make her meals nauseating; she simply didn’t know how not to. Song of Solomon

And then Luke, always the most obnoxious kid in the class, started calling me “Hunan Express,” which Emily thought was hilarious and kept repeating over and over again. Amina's Voice

Then he crimped his face as though I were odious and snorted, “Phew!” Black Like Me

The vomit that yellow fever patients spewed forth, as well as the blood and offensive odors, were particular horrors to most people, even those medically trained. An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793

“Fine, How about this—you know your mom’s last question? Are you happy? I told her that earlier today was the happiest I’ve ever seen you. That’s a little pathetic, honestly.” Made You Up

I have no desire to rule—the very idea of doing so is repellent to me. An Ember in the Ashes

“I think paisley is detestable and should be banned until the end of time. Same goes for pastel-colored clothing. Oh, and khakis are repugnant.” I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

He was thinking that if only he could get the Bloodbottler to take one bite of the repulsive vegetable, the sheer foulness of its flavour would send him bellowing out of the cave. The BFG

A revolting smell of burnt rubber seeped up from the debris. Tangerine

First to emerge was a policeman whom Roy recognized as Officer Delinko; then the bald construction foreman with the rotten temper; then a snooty- looking guy with silver hair and dorky sunglasses. Hoot

She had been unmasked as a CIA operative, thereby rendering her useless as an undercover agent in the Soviet Union. Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia

A report in the Woman’s Journal said, “Women were spat upon...slapped in the face, tripped up, pelted with burning cigar stubs, and insulted by jeers and obscene language too vile to print or repeat.” Votes for Women!

Breashears and company hustled him down the glacier at such a fast pace that in my own woeful state, I could barely keep up with them. Into Thin Air