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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hateful
This last sneak peek serves up heaps of colorful heroic set pieces as He-Man recruits a fearsome force to storm Castle Greyskull and reclaim the throne from his hateful nemesis.
—
Jeff Spry, Space.com, 26 May 2026
Speaking at a news conference with San Diego police and the FBI the day after the shooting, the Islamic Center’s imam said the mosque was accustomed to receiving hate mail, hateful messages online and hearing passing drivers scream and curse at community members.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2026
This is a direct result of the misinformation and hateful rhetoric being pushed by our federal government and some state officials, who choose division over unity and fear over truth.
—Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 22 May 2026
With horrifying regularity, a young man carries out a mass shooting with weapons bearing neo-Nazi or hateful references scrawled in white.
—Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hateful
Jeff Spry, Space.com, 26 May 2026
Speaking at a news conference with San Diego police and the FBI the day after the shooting, the Islamic Center’s imam said the mosque was accustomed to receiving hate mail, hateful messages online and hearing passing drivers scream and curse at community members.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2026
This is a direct result of the misinformation and hateful rhetoric being pushed by our federal government and some state officials, who choose division over unity and fear over truth.
—Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 22 May 2026
With horrifying regularity, a young man carries out a mass shooting with weapons bearing neo-Nazi or hateful references scrawled in white.
—Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hateful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hateful
Adjective
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The teenager was arrested for 12 counts of willful/malicious kill/maim/torture animal -- horse and three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property over $5,000, authorities said.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
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Justice Stanley Reed’s majority opinion emphasized that what had happened to Francis was accidental and that, without malicious intent, there was no violation of the Eighth Amendment.—
Austin Sarat,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Her vicious block on Clark with seven minutes left nearly lifted the roof off the place.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
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Other cast members spoke on rising to new challenges in Season 2, including Paulina Chavez, whose character Ariana Medina survived a vicious assault in the penultimate episode.—
Kai Naima Williams,
Variety,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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The immigrant-detention facility known as Alligator Alcatraz, deep in the Florida Everglades, stands out as a uniquely cruel publicity stunt with an absurdly high price tag, in which much of the money goes into just a few pockets.—
Eric Schlosser,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
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Therefore, a second execution would not violate the prohibition on double jeopardy or on the imposition of cruel punishment.—
Austin Sarat,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Flu season may be mostly behind us, but a nasty, highly contagious stomach bug is rising.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
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Rhaenyra is suddenly dealing with internal criticism, possible rebellions, subjects spray-painting nasty stuff on the walls and self-doubt.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hateful. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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