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love-hate relationship

American

[luhv-hayt ri-lay-shuhn-ship] / ˈlʌvˈheɪt rɪˈleɪ ʃənˌʃɪp /

noun

a state of ambivalence in which one feels both love and hate for someone or something.

Transylvania has something of a love-hate relationship with Dracula tourism.
The love-hate relationship between directors and actors is entertainingly dissected in this kiss-and-tell memoir from the directing frontlines.

Etymology

Origin of love-hate relationship

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

love-hate relationship

The co-brand cards that millions of consumers use have long been the epicenter of a love-hate relationship between large merchants and banks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

The love-hate relationship she had with the press is well represented by newspaper clippings and newsreels.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2026

Williams has something of a love-hate relationship with the Crucible, but after three previous successes he welcomed confirmation the World Championship will remain at the Sheffield venue until at least 2045.

From BBC ● Apr. 17, 2026

For years, I’ve been stuck in a love-hate relationship with third-party food delivery apps, including DoorDash and Grubhub.

From Salon ● Mar. 3, 2026

At the same time, Mami and Papi battled each other, intruding into my fantasies with their real-life love-hate relationship.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023