hateful

adjective

hate·​ful ˈhāt-fəl How to pronounce hateful (audio)
Synonyms of hatefulnext
1
: full of hate : malicious
2
: deserving of or arousing hate
hatefully
ˈhāt-fə-lē How to pronounce hateful (audio)
adverb
hatefulness noun

Synonyms of hateful

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Examples of hateful in a Sentence

the girl's classmates were bullying her online, sending her hateful e-mails and text messages
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Many of his views drew outrage from many who argued the racist and hateful language was an attempt to stoke tensions on campus and should not be platformed by colleges and universities. — Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026 Grabs a ketchup bottle and garnishes his face, before squirting mustard into his hateful, piggish eyes. — Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026 Doukoure characterized Tuesday's rhetoric as hateful but said CAIR and members of the Muslim community have become accustomed to being targeted because of their advocacy. — Gino Vicci, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 But arguably the script by Jones and director Brunner might have been a skoosh more impactful if the small-minded townsfolk, clearly coded as bigoted MAGA types, weren’t quite so hateful with only a few exceptions. — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hateful

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from hate hate entry 1 + -ful -ful entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hateful was in the 14th century

Rhymes for hateful

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Browse Nearby Words

hate crime
hateful
hatefully
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Cite this Entry

“Hateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hateful. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hateful

adjective
hate·​ful ˈhāt-fəl How to pronounce hateful (audio)
1
: full of hate : malicious
hateful enemies
2
: causing or deserving hate
a hateful crime
hatefully
-fə-lē How to pronounce hateful (audio)
adverb
hatefulness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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