おぞましい

• Reading: おぞましい
• Romaji: ozomashii
• Pronunciation: /o.zo.ma.ɕiː/

Meaning

Disgusting; repulsive; abhorrent; ghastly. Describes something that provokes deep revulsion or moral horror.

An i-adjective expressing visceral disgust — stronger and more emotionally intense than 気持ち悪い or 不快. It covers both physical repugnance and moral abhorrence: おぞましい犯罪 (a horrific crime) or おぞましい光景 (a ghastly sight). Often appears in literary or journalistic contexts when describing atrocities, disturbing scenes, or morally intolerable acts.

Examples

1. その犯罪の詳細はおぞましく、報道を見ることすらつらかった。 The details of the crime were ghastly, and even watching the news coverage was painful.
2. 歴史の教科書に記録されたおぞましい事件は、決して忘れてはならない。 The horrific incidents recorded in history textbooks must never be forgotten.
3. 彼が語ったおぞましい体験談を聞いて、しばらく眠れない夜が続いた。 After hearing the repulsive account he described, I had several nights where I could not sleep.

Usage Guide

Context: crime reporting, literature, history, horror

Tone: repulsed

Origin & History

From archaic おぞし (ozohi), meaning repulsive or dreadful. The root is believed to connect to classical expressions of disgust and dread, preserved in this i-adjective form.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical to Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal