execrate
Low (C2)Formal, Literary
Definition
Meaning
to feel or express intense, profound hatred; to curse or denounce vehemently.
To loathe or detest something or someone so deeply that one may call for their destruction or damnation. It implies a reaction of moral outrage and revulsion.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a reaction to something perceived as morally abhorrent. It is a performative verb where the expression of hatred (e.g., cursing) is part of the meaning. More intense than 'dislike' or 'hate'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally rare and formal in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries connotations of archaic or biblical wrath and solemn condemnation.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. More likely found in historical, religious, or literary texts than in contemporary speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] execrate [Object][Subject] execrate [Object] as [Noun Phrase]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[nothing specific; the verb itself is strong enough]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, but possible in historical, philosophical, or theological discourse discussing attitudes towards heresy or tyranny.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would sound archaic or pretentious.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The villagers would execrate the memory of the cruel lord for generations.
- He wrote a pamphlet to execrate the government's new policy.
American English
- The colonists execrated the Stamp Act as a tyrannical overreach.
- Puritan sermons would often execrate the sins of the community.
adverb
British English
- The crowd shouted execratingly at the convicted traitor.
- [Extremely rare usage]
American English
- He spoke execratingly of his former allies.
- [Extremely rare usage]
adjective
British English
- The execrated policy was repealed within a year.
- He lived as an execrated figure in exile.
American English
- The execrated dictator finally faced trial.
- Her execrated book was banned for decades.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The people began to execrate the corrupt officials.
- He execrated the violence he witnessed.
- Historians note how populist movements often execrate intellectual elites.
- The poet's later work execrates the moral emptiness of the age.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'EX-communicate' + 'CRUCI-fy' = EXECRATE. To cast out and condemn to suffering.
Conceptual Metaphor
HATRED IS A CURSE (to execrate is to verbally cast a harmful spell of condemnation).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'execute' (казнить). 'Execrate' is about expressing hate, not carrying out a death sentence.
- The Russian 'проклинать' is a close semantic match, but 'execrate' is far more formal and literary.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'excerate' or 'execriate'.
- Using it in casual contexts where 'hate' or 'can't stand' would be appropriate.
- Confusing it with 'exonerate' (to clear of blame).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is closest in meaning to 'execrate'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency, formal word primarily found in literary or historical contexts.
'Execration' (e.g., 'a cry of execration').
No, it denotes the most intense level of hatred and moral condemnation, often accompanied by a curse.
'Detest' is a strong feeling of dislike. 'Execrate' is stronger and includes the active, often public, expression of that hatred through curses or denunciations.