Very unpleasant, disgusting, or morally shocking.
From Old French *abominable*, from Latin *abominabilis* meaning “detestable, repulsive,” from *ab-* “away from” and *omen* “sign, omen.” Originally it suggested something so bad it was a bad omen.
The ‘abominable snowman’ sounds almost silly, but the word is actually very intense—something so bad it feels like a curse. It’s a great example of how a heavy, serious word can turn playful in pop culture while keeping its strong emotional flavor.
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