hatred

noun

ha·​tred ˈhā-trəd 

1

: extreme dislike or disgust : hate

2

: ill will or resentment that is usually mutual : prejudiced hostility or animosity

… old racial prejudices and national hatreds …

—Peter Thomson

Synonyms of hatred

• contempt
• hate
• distaste
• disdain
• loathing
• abhorrence
• detestation
• hostility
• spite
• abomination
• disgust

Examples of hatred in a Sentence

He had an irrational fear and hatred of foreigners.

She makes no attempt to conceal her hatred for her opponents.

This troubled city is filled with hatred, prejudice, crime, and fear.

The war was fueled by hatreds that were centuries old.

Recent Examples on the Web

Gaza will also need to deradicalize, which means healing minds poisoned by decades of hatred and fear; to democratize, which entails restoring legitimate and accountable institutions; and to develop a functioning economy that can replace despair with dignity. —Samer Sinijlawi, The Atlantic, 13 Nov. 2025

Full of rage and hatred, Isabelle is determined to have her revenge. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 13 Nov. 2025

After all of Gaga’s experiences, did the wave of hatred for a movie really bother her? —Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2025

But as soon as the empire is gone, all the suspicion and resentment and outright hatred starts to set in. —Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hatrede, from hate hate entry 1 + -rede, suffix denoting state or quality, going back to Old English -rǣden — more at kindred entry 2

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hatred

• self-hatred

Kids Definition

hatred

noun

ha·​tred ˈhā-trəd 

: hate entry 1 sense 1