Abomination is a noun describing something that is shockingly bad or revolting, often arousing strong moral outrage. It carries a formal, sometimes biblical tone, implying a profound degree of moral disgust or repugnance. The word can also refer to a person or thing regarded with strong abhorrence or detestation beyond ordinary dislike.
- You-focused note: You may flatten the /æ/ or reduce the middle syllables, saying “abominashun” or “abomnation.” - Risk: false epenthesis or inserting an extra syllable between /ˈmeɪ/ and /ni/; correction: keep /ˈmeɪ.ni/ as two strong but fast syllables. - Consonant blending: avoid overly aspirated /b/ or an oversimplified /t/-like finish; aim for a clean /ˈmeɪ.niˌeɪʃən/ with a soft /ʃ/ before /ən/. - Intonation: avoid flat delivery; emphasize the fourth syllable with a slight rise-fall to signal emphasis. - Practice tip: speak in slow cadence, then gradually increase speed while maintaining segment boundaries.
- US: typical rhotic /ɹ/ if present in connected speech; focus on the /æ/ vowel and the /eɪ/ diphthong; ensure the /ʃən/ at the end is smooth, not clipped. - UK: slightly crisper /ˈæb.əˌmeɪ.niː.əˈʃən/ with a lighter /ə/ in unstressed positions; reduced vowels in non-stressed syllables; non-rhotic. - AU: non-rhotic with broader vowel shapes, softer /ə/ in second syllable; keep /eɪ/ strong; final /ʃən/ tends to be more compressed. IPA references: US /ˌæbəˈmeɪniˌeɪʃən/, UK /ˌæbəˈmeɪniəˈʃən/, AU /ˌæbəˈmeɪniˌeɪʃən/.
"The dictator's crimes were an abomination in the eyes of the international community."
"Many critics called the policy an abomination, unfit for a civilized society."
"The living conditions in the camp were an abomination that shocked every visitor."
"To some, any act of cruelty toward animals is an abomination that must be stopped."
Abomination derives from the Middle English abominacioun, borrowed from Old French abomination, which itself comes from the Latin abominatio, meaning ‘a detestable thing, loathing.’ The Latin term blends ab- ‘away, from’ with omen (from omen, a sign) in a sense of turning away from a sign of divine disfavor. The root word omen, associated with foretelling, became tied to moral repugnance as Christianity spread, reinforcing the idea of an abhorrent, unsanctioned thing. In English, the term coalesced into a strong noun by the 14th century and has retained its formal, sometimes hyperbolic connotation ever since. Over time, ‘abomination’ has broadened beyond religious contexts to describe anything overwhelmingly unacceptable, grotesque, or morally offensive, while still preserving its weighty, almost ceremonial register in modern usage.
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Help others use "Abomination" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Abomination" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Abomination" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Abomination"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /ˌæbəˈmeɪniˌeɪʃən/ in US, /ˌæbəˈmeɪniˌeɪʃən/ in UK, with a non-rhotic AU variant similar to /ˌæbəˈmeɪniˌeɪʃən/. Stress pattern: secondary stress on the first syllable, primary stress on the fourth syllable before the -tion: a-BOM-i-NA-tion where the core focus lands on ‘NA’ (neɪ). Anchor sounds: “ab” /æb/ as in cat, “o” as schwa, “mā” as /meɪ/, “ni” as /ni/, final “ation” as /eɪʃən/. See audio examples from Pronounce or Forvo for natural cadence.
Common mistakes: 1) Misplacing secondary stress on the first syllable instead of the fourth; 2) Reducing the middle syllables too much, making it sound like ‘abomination.’ 3) Mispronouncing /meɪ/ as a quick /mɪ/ or /mi/. Correction: keep /ˌæbə/ as a light, unstressed lead-in, then clearly hit /ˈmeɪ/ then /niˌeɪʃən/ with a gentle glide into the final /ən/.
In US English, you hear /ˌæbəˈmeɪniˌeɪʃən/ with a clear /æ/ in the first syllable and rhoticity influencing the final /r/ presence if any; UK often shows /ˌæbəˈmeɪniəˈʃən/ with less pronounced schwa in certain unstressed vowels and a crisper /tʃ/? Wait: final is /ʃən/ as in ‘ation’; AU shares non-rhotic tendencies, slightly longer vowels and a softer /ɪ/ in the middle. The core vowels remain /æ/ and /eɪ/ across accents, but vowel length, reduced vowels, and syllable timing shift subtly.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic structure and the /eɪ/ sequence in /meɪ/ and /eɪʃən/. Many learners misplace primary stress on the wrong syllable and blur the /b/-to-/ə/ transition. Also, the /ˌæbə/ onset requires a light, clipped start, followed by a longer /ˈmeɪn/ segment before /iʃən/. Practice with slow syllable-by-syllable articulation helps stabilize rhythm and reduces phonemic blend errors.
A distinctive feature is the secondary stress on the first syllable and the strong diphthong /eɪ/ in the penultimate stressed syllable before -tion. The ending -tion typically yields /ʃən/ or /ən/ depending on dialect and speed. Visualizing the pattern: a-BOM-i-NA-tion with clear separation between the ‘bom’ and ‘i-’ clusters helps maintain accuracy, especially in connected speech.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Abomination"!
- Shadowing: listen to a native speaker narrate a sentence containing ‘abomination’ and repeat immediately, aiming for near-simultaneous timing. - Minimal pairs: practice with words like ‘abody’ (not a real word) or use constructed contrasts such as /ˌæbəˈmeɪniˌeɪʃən/ vs /ˌæbəˈmenən/ to isolate /eɪ/. - Rhythm practice: count 4-syllable word aloud in stress-timed rhythm; place a stronger beat on the 4th syllable before -tion. - Stress practice: mark syllables and practice alternating emphasis to get that primary stress on the ‘NA’ syllable. - Recording: record yourself reading a short paragraph including ‘abomination’; compare to a native sample and note the places to adjust. - Context practice: create sentences with moral or legal context to lock in the formal register of the word.
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