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

• abhorrence
• abomination
• detestation
• execration
• hate
• loathing

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

Love has triumphed over hatred, light over darkness and truth over falsehood. —Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025

While highlighting the vicious cycle of ethnic hatred, Gavin strives for impartiality. —Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025

Some of that hatred was rooted in misogyny and other biases, while some was simply born of frustration with the storytelling device. —Eliana Dockterman, Time, 21 Apr. 2025

Other notes from Sirhan expressing hatred for Robert F. Kennedy have been publicly known for decades and were referenced at his trial. —Joe Walsh, CBS News, 18 Apr. 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