HATEFUL Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

hateful

adjective

ˈhāt-fəl

Definition of hateful

as in malicious

having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it the girl's classmates were bullying her online, sending her hateful e-mails and text messages

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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.

Recent Examples of hateful Social media sites used for hateful comments Pumphrey made threatening posts on the social media platform YouTube and other social media sites, according to the guilty plea. — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 30 June 2026 Political podcasters such as Tucker Carlson peddle conspiracies and lies, and there seems to be little consequence for hateful rhetoric. — Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 29 June 2026 We’re used to nasty, hateful, and sometimes violent things being said about us and even about our family. — Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 26 June 2026 Conservatives are often accused of being divisive, hateful and exclusionary. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hateful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hateful

Adjective

Anthropic has reported banning accounts and tightening filters after detecting attempts to use Claude for phishing emails, malicious code and safeguard bypasses.

— Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Rather than needing years of specialist knowledge, attackers can now use large language models to perform reconnaissance, identify weaknesses, write malicious code and map computer networks in ways that previously demanded significant expertise.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026

Definition of malicious

Adjective

The heat has become so unbearable in Japan that weather officials in April announced a new term for days when maximum temperatures exceed 104 degrees — kokushobi, meaning harsh or cruel heat, according to the Japan Times.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
For thousands of Venezuelans, however, the lack of definitive answers has become one of the tragedy’s cruelest consequences.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026

Definition of cruel

Adjective

Lyndsy Fonseca, rapper Russ, Tom Cavanagh, Hunter King, Joseph Lee Anderson and Rob Riggle star in the indie film, which concerns a group of campers who run into a nasty, giant, prehistoric spider.

— William Earl, Variety, 15 July 2026
At that point, a nasty nearly $7 million a day ticking fee takes effect that will find Paramount on the hook for hundreds of millions out to WBD shareholders each month until the matter gets regulatory approval.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 13 July 2026

Definition of nasty

Browse Nearby Words

hated

hateful

hatefully

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“Hateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hateful. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of hateful

adjective

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