What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Contest vs Detest - What's the difference?

contest | detest |

In lang=en terms the difference between contest and detest

is that contest is to strive earnestly to hold or maintain; to struggle to defend while detest is to dislike intensely; to loathe.

As verbs the difference between contest and detest

is that contest is to contend while detest is to dislike intensely; to loathe.

As a noun contest

is (uncountable) controversy; debate.

contest

English

Noun

  • (uncountable) Controversy; debate.
  • no contest
  • (uncountable) Struggle for superiority; combat.
  • (countable) A competition.
  • The child entered the spelling contest .

    Synonyms

    * (controversy) controversy, debate, discussion * (combat) battle, combat, fight * (competition) competition, pageant

    Derived terms

    (Terms derived from the noun "contest") * contest shape * fashion contest * no contest * pissing contest * popularity contest * wet t-shirt contest * will contest

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To contend.
  • I will contest for the open seat on the board.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • Of man, who dares in pomp with Jove contest ?
  • * Bishop Burnet
  • The difficulty of an argument adds to the pleasure of contesting with it, when there are hopes of victory.
  • To call into question; to oppose.
  • The rival contested the dictator's re-election because of claims of voting irregularities.
  • * J. D. Morell
  • Few philosophical aphorisms have been more frequently repeated, few more contested than this.
  • To strive earnestly to hold or maintain; to struggle to defend.
  • The troops contested every inch of ground.
  • (legal) To make a subject of litigation; to defend, as a suit; to dispute or resist, as a claim, by course of law; to controvert.
  • Synonyms

    * (contend) compete, contend, go in for * (oppose) call into question, oppose

    Antonyms

    * (oppose) support

    detest

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To dislike intensely; to loathe.
  • I detest snakes.
    Who dares think one thing, and another tell, / My heart detests him as the gates of hell. — Pope.
  • (obsolete) To witness against; to denounce; to condemn.
  • The heresy of Nestorius was detested in the Eastern churches. — Fuller.
    God hath detested them with his own mouth. — Bale.

    Usage notes

    * This is a catenative verb that takes the gerund (-ing) . See

    Synonyms

    * See also

    See also

    * abhor * despise * disdain * dislike * hate * loathe

    Anagrams

    *