If you say ....you think
abomination
abomination abominations
If you say that something is an abomination, you think that it is completely unacceptable. (FORMAL)
What is happening is an abomination.
N-COUNT disapproval
= outrage
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abracadabra
abracadabra
Abracadabra is a word that someone says when they are performing a magic trick in order to make the magic happen.
EXCLAM
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absent-minded
absent-minded
Someone who is absent-minded forgets things or does not pay attention to what they are doing, often because they are thinking about something else.
In his later life he became even more absent-minded.
ADJ-GRADED also absentminded
= forgetful
?absent-mindedly
Elizabeth absent-mindedly picked a thread from his lapel.
ADV-GRADED: ADV with v
?absent-mindedness
You will have to put up with Grace's absent-mindedness.
N-UNCOUNT: oft with poss
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absolutely
1 absolutely
Absolutely means totally and completely.
Jill is absolutely right.
I absolutely refuse to get married.
There is absolutely no difference!
ADV: usu ADV adj/adv, also ADV with v emphasis
2 absolutely
Some people say absolutely as an emphatic way of saying yes or of agreeing with someone. They say absolutely not as an emphatic way of saying no or of disagreeing with someone.
`It's worrying that they're doing things without training though, isn't it?'n`Absolutely.'.
`Did they approach you?'n`No, absolutely not.'
ADV: ADV as reply emphasis
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absolutism
1 absolutism
Absolutism is a political system in which one ruler or leader has complete power and authority over a country.
...the triumphal reassertion of royal absolutism.
N-UNCOUNT
2 absolutism
You can refer to someone's beliefs as absolutism if they think that their beliefs are true, right, or relevant in all situations, especially if you think they are wrong to behave in this way.
They are saying, with varying degrees of absolutism, that animals should not be exploited at all.
N-UNCOUNT disapproval
?absolutist
This absolutist belief is replaced by an appreciation that rules can vary.
ADJ
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absurd
absurd
If you say that something is absurd, you are criticizing it because you think that it is ridiculous or that it does not make sense.
It is absurd to be discussing compulsory redundancy policies for teachers.
I've known clients of mine go to absurd lengths, just to avoid paying me a few pounds.
That's absurd.
ADJ-GRADED: oft it v-link ADJ to-inf/that disapproval
= ridiculous
+ absurd
The absurd is something that is absurd. (FORMAL)
Parkinson had a sharp eye for the absurd.
N-SING: the N
?absurdly
Prices were still absurdly low, in his opinion.
Absurdly, it makes shoppers overpay farmers to grow too much food.
ADV-GRADED
?absurdity absurdities
I find myself growing increasingly angry at the absurdity of the situation.
...the absurdities of fashionable childcare methods.
N-VAR
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