- Today's Word
Odious
[OH-dee-us]
Definition
- (adjective) Something or someone extremely unpleasant, repugnant, or worthy of hatred. It refers to things that provoke intense dislike or disgust, often due to their offensive or morally objectionable nature.
Example
The candidate’s odious remarks about immigrants caused many supporters to withdraw their backing and created a public relations crisis for his campaign.
Fun Fact
“Odious” comes from the Latin word “odiosus,” derived from “odium,” meaning “hatred.” In ancient Roman law, there was a specific legal principle called “odious debt” (debita odiosa), which referred to financial obligations incurred by a ruler for purposes that were against the interests of the state’s citizens. This concept still exists in modern international law, where “odious debt” describes national debts incurred by corrupt regimes. Interestingly, in medieval times, being declared “odious” by the Catholic Church was a serious matter that could lead to social ostracism. The word gained particular prominence during the French Revolution, where declaring someone “odieux” (the French equivalent) could lead to their being targeted by revolutionary forces. Today, while less dramatically employed, it remains one of the strongest words in English for expressing moral repugnance, carrying more weight than similar terms like “disagreeable” or “unpleasant.”