Synonyms of hateful

hateful

adjective

ˈhāt-fəl 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• malicious
• vicious
• cruel
• nasty
• spiteful
• bad
• malevolent
• virulent
• malignant
• despiteful
• bitchy
• bitter
• venomous
• jealous
• poisonous
• malign
• mean
• harsh
• catty
• evil
• obnoxious
• vindictive
• hostile
• resentful
• vitriolic
• unkind
• contemptuous
• envious
• derogatory
• disdainful
• devious
• disparaging
• acrimonious
• scornful
• snide
• rancorous
• snotty
• mean-spirited
• snakelike
• unloving
• jaundiced
• scurvy
• opprobrious
• baneful
• unkindly
• caustic
• deprecating
• scoundrelly
• baleful
• inimical
• scathing
• acrid

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loving
• benign
• benevolent
• sympathetic
• good
• kind
• compassionate
• warm
• pleasant
• friendly
• nice
• kindly
• gracious
• amiable
• agreeable
• sweet
• affable
• benignant
• cordial
• genial
• affectionate
• kindhearted
• unmalicious
• good-hearted
• amorous
• warmhearted
• humane
• tender
• noble
• magnanimous
• altruistic
• humanitarian
• tenderhearted
• philanthropic
• high-minded

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hateful

The goal isn’t to eliminate every harmful post or hateful idea. — Larry Magid, Mercury News, 30 July 2026

The league’s emphasis on off-court harassment followed a July 22 joint statement from the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association addressing an increase in racist, hateful and abusive messages directed at players. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026

Bush's recent event included some Jewish faith leaders who share her criticism of Israel, as well as others who echoed hateful tropes. — ABC News, 26 July 2026

Look the steady coarsening of American civic and political culture and the ways in which the once-outrageous—the bilious, hateful rhetoric and the creeping authoritarianism—have become almost ordinary. — Literary Hub, 15 July 2026