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

In Village People’s gay-empowerment lexicon this means joining a gay community, for true abolition from the slavery of societal/self-loathing cannot be achieved on one’s own. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2026

The verse about what self-loathing can lie behind someone blurring their Zoom background really stayed with me. —Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2026

This entails ruthless self-evaluations: the shameful memories, the self-loathing, the confusions and delusions and sufferings that refuse to disappear. —Brady Brickner-Wood, Pitchfork, 6 May 2026

But where The Pitt centered Robby’s trauma and self-loathing and spun character interactions and relationships off of it all season long, Al-Hashimi was first a riddle to be solved, then a problem to be addressed. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-loathing

• loathing