odious

/ˈəʊ.di.əs/

Group 30Difficulty 2/3

Definition

(adjective)
Extremely unpleasant; repulsive
GRE

Example in Context

The odious conditions in the detention facility, documented by independent inspectors, prompted demands for immediate reform from human rights organizations.

Synonyms

hatefulrevoltingvile

Etymology

Something that inspires hatred or is extremely unpleasant.

  • odium (Latin) — hatred

Memory Aid

🤢Sounds like “oh dear us

Imagine someone saying 'OH DEAR US!' after smelling something so ODIOUS that it makes them gag!

Visual Association

🤮A person dramatically recoiling from a pile of rotten food, making a disgusted face.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “odious” mean on the GRE?

odious (adjective) means “Extremely unpleasant; repulsive”. The odious conditions in the detention facility, documented by independent inspectors, prompted demands for immediate reform from human rights organizations.

How to remember “odious” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “odious” sounds like “oh dear us”. Imagine someone saying 'OH DEAR US!' after smelling something so ODIOUS that it makes them gag!

What are synonyms for “odious”?

Common synonyms: hateful, revolting, vile.