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self-loathing

American  
[self-loh-thing] / ˈsɛlfˈloʊ ðɪŋ /

noun

  1. disgust with oneself; the feeling that one is detestable.

    Consumed by my own self-loathing, I thought I deserved nothing.


adjective

  1. feeling or expressing disgust with oneself.

    In my insecure and self-loathing mind, I figured she’d probably given me her number with no intention of ever going out with me.

Etymology

Origin of self-loathing

self- ( def. ) + loathing ( def. )

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:

For a team whose signature was bowing out of major tournaments in a storm of self-sabotage and self-loathing, surviving this trip south of the border erased years of heartbreak—but only for a moment.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 6, 2026

At the end of this confusing speech, however, she reassured the audience that all this self-loathing and frustration was worth it.

From Salon Jun. 12, 2026

Nevertheless, Head fully commits to his character’s self-loathing, which he endures to shield his daughter from the nastiness of their dystopian surroundings.

From Salon Jun. 12, 2026

She does everything to belie the fact that she’s pretty, which only makes the self-loathing aspect of her character more ludicrous.

From The Wall Street Journal Dec. 11, 2025

The concern in his eyes made me nearly sick with self-loathing.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

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