self-loathing

noun

self-loath·​ing ˌself-ˈlō-ṯẖiŋ How to pronounce self-loathing (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See All Example Sentences for self-loathing

Word History

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-loathing was in 1635

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Cite this Entry

“Self-loathing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-loathing. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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