Synonyms of hate

hate 1 of 2

verb

as in to despise

to dislike strongly

she hates her job, she hates her friends, and she hates her life!

Synonyms & Similar Words

• despise
• loathe
• detest
• abhor
• abominate
• disdain
• disapprove (of)
• have it in for
• execrate
• scorn
• deplore
• deprecate
• discountenance
• disfavor

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• love
• like
• prefer
• desire
• enjoy
• favor
• fancy
• relish
• admire
• approve (of)
• adore
• worship
• treasure
• cherish
• esteem
• prize
• revere
• idolize
• venerate
• hallow

hate

2 of 2

noun

ˈhāt 

1

as in hatred

a very strong dislike

hate can sometimes be replaced with tolerance when people meet face to face

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hatred
• contempt
• distaste
• disdain
• loathing
• abhorrence
• detestation
• abomination
• spite
• disgust
• jealousy
• hostility
• execration
• resentment
• malice
• bitterness
• hatefulness
• malevolence
• meanness
• revulsion
• animosity
• spitefulness
• repulsion
• malignancy
• malignity
• repugnance
• enmity
• despite
• scorn
• grudge
• antagonism
• antipathy
• odium
• maliciousness
• aversion
• invidiousness
• bile
• despitefulness
• horror
• rancor
• pique
• vitriol
• virulence
• venom
• jaundice
• spleen
• cattiness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• love
• devotion
• affection
• inclination
• worship
• appetite
• admiration
• fondness
• acceptance
• liking
• tolerance
• taste
• passion
• adoration
• veneration
• relish

2

as in enemy

something or someone that is hated

the Alaska pipeline is a pet hate of environmentalists

Synonyms & Similar Words

• enemy
• abhorrence
• phobia
• antipathy
• detestation
• abomination
• adversary
• aversion
• bête noire
• anathema
• execration
• dread
• nuisance
• bugaboo
• annoyance
• bugbear
• horror
• hang-up
• grievance
• bogey
• peeve
• hassle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• love
• beloved
• dear
• joy
• pleasure
• darling
• honey
• delight
• enjoyment
• preference
• sweetheart
• favorite
• treasure
• like
• felicity

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb hate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of hate are abhor, abominate, detest, and loathe. While all these words mean "to feel strong aversion or intense dislike for," hate implies an emotional aversion often coupled with enmity or malice.

hated the enemy with a passion

When would abhor be a good substitute for hate?

The meanings of abhor and hate largely overlap; however, abhor implies a deep often shuddering repugnance.

a crime abhorred by all

When might abominate be a better fit than hate?

The synonyms abominate and hate are sometimes interchangeable, but abominate suggests strong detestation and often moral condemnation.

abominates all forms of violence

When can detest be used instead of hate?

While in some cases nearly identical to hate, detest suggests violent antipathy.

detests cowards

When is it sensible to use loathe instead of hate?

While the synonyms loathe and hate are close in meaning, loathe implies utter disgust and intolerance.

loathed the mere sight of them

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hate

Verb

Damon’s Odysseus is numbed by the massacre of Troy’s civilians; Fiennes’ hates himself for leading the best men of Ithaca to their death, gutting his own community in the heedless destruction of another. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026

The letter wears a visible hearing aid and hates the offensive jokes about it. — Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2026

Noun

So if the hate is partly fake and the behavior is fully real, why did none of this dent Argentina for the previous ten years? — Shann Biglione, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Islander Zach Georgio in particular has been dealing with a lot of hate since leaving the villa. — Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026