self-loathing

noun

self-loath·​ing ˌself-ˈlō-ṯẖiŋ 

: loathing of oneself : self-hatred

acting out of fear and self-loathing

… the idea that the self-absorption and egotism of the narcissist are a pose to mask their opposite: a deep well of self-loathing and low self-esteem.

—Jeffrey Kluger

self-loathing adjective

… his life as a self-loathing sensualist, an incautious but easily damaged artist …

—A. L. Kennedy

… stars as a self-loathing English writer who writes Hollywood sitcoms for his actress wife …

—Giselle Benatar

Examples of self-loathing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This was a performer whose sense of self-worth, depending on the day, ranged from unfeigned humility to desperate insecurity to full-on self-loathing. —Bruce Handy, Air Mail, 3 May 2025

Photo: IMDb This deeply icky picaresque about a 13-year-old runaway (Chloë Grace Moretz) called in Lively for the Blake specialty: a self-loathing drug addict with a heart of gold with whom men are obsessed. —Lizzie Logan, Vulture, 2 May 2025

Finding the hard evidence first before jumping to conclusions saves you a lot of self-loathing, unnecessary worry, relationship problems and productive time. —Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025

The concluding note of simplifying, uplifting coincidence does a disservice to Giamatti’s degree of commitment, with far more conviction in his turns from anger to self-loathing to remorse than the episode exercises in its own plotting. 11. —Charles Bramesco, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-loathing

• loathing