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 next

as in to despise

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Examples 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

Taxing those additional wages would go a long way toward stabilizing Social Security, Auerbach said — but Republicans hate taxing the rich as much as Democrats hate raising the retirement age. —

Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024 People typically hate car shopping, with most surveys showing that the dealership experience tops people’s lists of frustrations. —

Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 10 Dec. 2024

Noun

If open carry is passed, hate groups could exploit the law to display their guns in a public show of force, said state Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando. —

Skyler Swisher, Orlando Sentinel, 29 Nov. 2024 That element doesn’t come from a single source, however, but from all the core characters chiming in on the main duo’s love/hate bromance. —

Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 28 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hate

Verb

White argues that the crypto industry has become a re-creation of much of what its original ideology claimed to despise.

Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 11 Dec. 2024
Beatles ’64 captures how widely the band was despised at the time by the adult establishment, from Bob Hope to the British Embassy.

Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 26 Nov. 2024