HATE Synonyms: 121 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'hate' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of hate are abhor , abominate , detest , and loathe . While all these words mean "to feel strong aversion or intense dislike for," hate implies an emotional aversion often coupled with enmity or malice. // hated the enemy with a passion

Q: When would 'abhor' be a good substitute for 'hate'?

The meanings of abhor and hate largely overlap; however, abhor implies a deep often shuddering repugnance. // a crime abhorred by all

Q: When might 'abominate' be a better fit than 'hate'?

The synonyms abominate and hate are sometimes interchangeable, but abominate suggests strong detestation and often moral condemnation. // abominates all forms of violence

Q: When can 'detest' be used instead of 'hate'?

While in some cases nearly identical to hate , detest suggests violent antipathy. // detests cowards

Q: When is it sensible to use 'loathe' instead of 'hate'?

While the synonyms loathe and hate are close in meaning, loathe implies utter disgust and intolerance. // loathed the mere sight of them

hate 1 of 2

verb

Definition of hate

as in to despise

to dislike strongly she hates her job, she hates her friends, and she hates her life!

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hate

2 of 2

noun

ˈhāt

as in hatred

a very strong dislike hate can sometimes be replaced with tolerance when people meet face to face

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in enemy

something or someone that is hated the Alaska pipeline is a pet hate of environmentalists

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb hate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of hate are abhor, abominate, detest, and loathe. While all these words mean "to feel strong aversion or intense dislike for," hate implies an emotional aversion often coupled with enmity or malice.

hated the enemy with a passion

When would abhor be a good substitute for hate?

The meanings of abhor and hate largely overlap; however, abhor implies a deep often shuddering repugnance.

a crime abhorred by all

When might abominate be a better fit than hate?

The synonyms abominate and hate are sometimes interchangeable, but abominate suggests strong detestation and often moral condemnation.

abominates all forms of violence

When can detest be used instead of hate?

While in some cases nearly identical to hate, detest suggests violent antipathy.

detests cowards

When is it sensible to use loathe instead of hate?

While the synonyms loathe and hate are close in meaning, loathe implies utter disgust and intolerance.

loathed the mere sight of them

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of hate

Verb

The other irony is that many of the characters on these very shows would hate this kind of lazy legacy thinking and would balk at it. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 23 Aug. 2026 Even Cubs-hating Sox fans had to marvel at the performance of Crow-Armstrong, whose three home runs stole the show and helped his MVP cause. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Noun

Most people deserve human kindness and want strong defenses against hate. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026 He was accused of two other antisemitic outbursts and was eventually convicted in France on hate-speech charges. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hate

Verb

Hate him, despise him, be jealous of his wealth, but support his efforts to destroy Iran and hopefully end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
The zombies despise water and are connected to a lab experiment that involves chimps (the special effects get a bit iffy there).

— Randy Myers, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of despise

Noun

His hatred of the Islamic State group appears genuine, and American cooperation with Damascus against the terrorist network will benefit the Syrians who suffered most under its rule.

— Jason M. Blazakis, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
Yet Christ Jesus consistently refused to let fear, hatred, or sin define his view of anyone’s identity.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of hatred

Noun

Blanche’s immediate predecessor, Pam Bondi, was ousted in April after failing to deliver successful prosecutions against the president’s political enemies.

— Alanna Durkin Richer, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Rather than law enforcement authorities like the Coast Guard having to seize a vessel under civil seizure laws, the Department of Defense, usually through military force, can seize an enemy vessel instead.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of enemy

Noun

But your abhorrence of the outcomes of particular elections doesn’t justify your saying, Well, the hell with that.

— Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
When human decency and basic civility fall victim to partisanship and ideology, and abhorrence of violence becomes tempered by political aims, monstrosities and tyrannies become possible.

— Michael Bloomberg, Twin Cities, 24 Sep. 2025

Definition of abhorrence

Noun

Cage plays Roy, a gifted con artist with obsessive-compulsive disorder whose tics, phobias and elaborate rituals have turned his immaculate home into a fortress against the world.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Turns out that the star had quite the number of phobias to conquer.

— Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026

Definition of phobia

Noun

The other is that Republicans’ antipathy towards vote-by-mail is waning.

— Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 1 June 2026
Alexander Kazakov | Afp | Getty Images That Russia and China are seen as ideologically aligned on many geopolitical issues, with each sharing a traditional antipathy and distrust towards the West, and Washington.

— Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 20 May 2026

Definition of antipathy

Noun

How Nelson is reformulated from one who feels desire to one who feels detestation (as well as shame for having desired) is the remarkable achievement of both the story and the storyteller and the system that requires it.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Feb. 2026
One of the most memorable chapters epitomizes her detestation for the ultra-wealthy and pompous intellectuals who rushed to rationalize her work.

— Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 20 Jan. 2024

Definition of detestation

Noun

It a thematic fit, and after nearly 200 episodes, there’s no doubting this team’s ability to deliver fresh, new abominations.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 17 Aug. 2026
And that was before the abomination — three-parts Netflix advertising event and one-part baseball game — even happened.

— Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 13 July 2026

Definition of abomination

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“Hate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hate. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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