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

In a time where hatred and division are rife, this is a festival of love. — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026

Hoon Lee is not as famous as Pugh, nor does his character burn as brightly as Cathy’s hatred for societal norms. — Alison Herman, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026

The congregants did not know that a man police say was driven by hatred had allegedly arrived with weapons and the capacity to cause mass casualties. — Ariella Noveck, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026

The Hearst newspaper chain’s first profile of Hitler made no explicit mention of antisemitism, emphasizing instead his hatred of the Bolsheviks. — Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

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