# detest

> English word · Verb · IPA /dɪˈtɛst/ · frequency rank #34,016

## Definitions
1. To dislike (someone or something) intensely; to loathe.
2. To witness against; to denounce; to condemn.

## Etymology
PIE word
 *tréyes
From Middle French detester (French détester), from Latin dētestor (“to imprecate evil while calling the gods to witness", "denounce", "hate intensely”), from dē- + testor (“to testify, bear witness”), from testis (“a witness”); see test, testify. Doublet of detestate.

## Easily confused with
- **digest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detest-vs-digest)
- **divest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detest-vs-divest)
- **driest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detest-vs-driest)
- **dates** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dates-vs-detest)
- **deter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deter-vs-detest)
- **defeat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defeat-vs-detest)
- **decent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decent-vs-detest)
- **desert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/desert-vs-detest)
- **detect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/detect-vs-detest)
- **defect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defect-vs-detest)
- **deceit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deceit-vs-detest)
- **desist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/desist-vs-detest)
- **dentist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dentist-vs-detest)
- **deepest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deepest-vs-detest)
- **dearest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dearest-vs-detest)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ddetest`, `deetst`, `detesst`, `detestt`, `detets`, `detset`, `dettest`, `dteest`, `edtest`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/detest