hateful

[heyt-fuhl]

adjective

1. arousing hate or deserving to be hated.

   the hateful oppression of dictators.

   Synonyms: loathsome, invidious, repugnant, abhorrent, execrable, abominable
   Antonyms: praiseworthy, commendable, agreeable, likable

2. unpleasant; dislikable; distasteful.

   She found her domestic chores hateful.

3. full of or expressing hate malignant; malevolent.

   a hateful denunciatory speech.

hateful

/ ˈheɪtfʊl /

adjective

1. causing or deserving hate; loathsome; detestable

2. full of or showing hate

Other Word Forms

• hatefully adverb
• hatefulness noun
• unhateful adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hateful¹

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; hate, -ful

Synonym Study

Hateful, obnoxious, odious, offensive refer to something that causes strong dislike or annoyance. Hateful implies actually causing hatred or extremely strong dislike: The sight of him is hateful to me. Obnoxious emphasizes causing annoyance or discomfort by objectionable qualities: His persistence made him seem obnoxious. His piggish manners made him obnoxious to his companions. Odious emphasizes the disagreeable or displeasing: an odious little man; odious servility. Offensive emphasizes the distaste and resentment caused by something that may be either displeasing or insulting: an offensive odor, remark.

Example Sentences

“We extend our support to Michael, his family, and all in Simi Valley who have been impacted by this hateful and traumatic incident,” she said in the Aug. 7 statement.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He will say that migrants and refugees are "not the problem" and accuse Labour of failing to offer an alternative to what he says are the "hateful divisive politics" of Nigel Farage.

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But it’s fair to say that Reagan never indulged in outright name-calling or hateful invective, stressed his desire for negotiation over confrontation and left the nuclear saber-rattling to subordinates.

Read more on Salon

Sir Keir emphasised the diplomatic move means Hamas can have "no future, no role in government, no role in security" and was the "exact opposite of their hateful vision".

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During his 2024 campaign, Mackenzie pitched himself as running in order to “break away from the hateful rhetoric and get things done.”

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• abhorrent 
• bitter 
• despicable 
• disgusting 
• heinous 
• odious 
• ornery 
• repulsive 
• spiteful 
• vicious 
• vile