HATRED Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

hatred

noun

ˈhā-trəd

Definition of hatred

as in contempt

a very strong dislike a lifelong hatred of war that inspired him to join a peace movement

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 hatred But choices like Wintour’s silence the very people hurt by ethnic hatred. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 20 Aug. 2026 Christian leaders, along with the mayor of Dearborn and the chief of police, came together Monday afternoon to send out a message of unity against hatred. — Heath Kalb, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 Palal told jurors Davis held onto a visceral hatred for Shakur for decades that drove him to speak. — Jessica Hill, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026 When hostilities intensify and become protracted, hatred, resentment, and the desire for revenge make war self-sustaining. — Matt Waldman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hatred

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hatred

Noun

That court, which has five judges appointed by Republican governors and two appointed by Democrats, then summoned Hoskins, a Republican, to appear for a contempt of court hearing Thursday.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins is set to face the state Supreme Court today to explain why he should not be held in contempt of court.

— Brittney Melton, NPR, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of contempt

Noun

The trend matches an increase in hate incidents documented by the Spanish government.

— Shira Li Bartov, Sun Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2026
Those two truths, the extraordinary power of solidarity, and the danger of allowing fear to become hate, have shaped my North Star throughout my life.

— Mark Treyger, New York Daily News, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of hate

Noun

But all of that distaste was supposed to go away when the games began, when the undefeated and delicious product that is college football finally got the chance to shove the ancillary stuff back into the shadows.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
Americans have a strong distaste for government surveillance, Stanley said.

— Meg Anderson, NPR, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of distaste

Noun

The moment Mona meets the production’s director, Jerry (Paul Giamatti), his disdain is palpable.

— Cortlyn Kelly, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2026
The right can’t stop talking about his sharp criticisms of MAGA leadership, disdain for US foreign policy, and his pro-Palestinian stance.

— Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of disdain

Noun

El-Sayed and Piker have professed their abhorrence of anti-Semitism.

— Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
When human decency and basic civility fall victim to partisanship and ideology, and abhorrence of violence becomes tempered by political aims, monstrosities and tyrannies become possible.

— Michael Bloomberg, Twin Cities, 24 Sep. 2025

Definition of abhorrence

Noun

How Nelson is reformulated from one who feels desire to one who feels detestation (as well as shame for having desired) is the remarkable achievement of both the story and the storyteller and the system that requires it.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Feb. 2026
One of the most memorable chapters epitomizes her detestation for the ultra-wealthy and pompous intellectuals who rushed to rationalize her work.

— Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 20 Jan. 2024

Definition of detestation

Noun

Those moves come amid higher oil prices, with Brent crude futures hovering around $99 a barrel Tuesday amid escalating hostilities in the Middle East.

— Sarah Min,Hugh Leask, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026
Goldman's base case Goldman's forecast is based on an increase in hostilities in the Middle East.

— Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of hostility

Browse Nearby Words

hat in hand

hatred

hats

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Hatred.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hatred. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of hatred

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

empirical

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes