as in to despise as in to despise Synonym Chooser Example Sentences Cite this Entry Citation Save Word To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In hate 1 of 2 verb Synonyms & Similar Words disapprove (of) Antonyms & Near Antonyms Synonyms & Similar Words Antonyms & Near Antonyms Synonyms & Similar Words Antonyms & Near Antonyms Synonym Chooser How does the verb hate contrast with its synonyms? Some common synonyms of hate are abhor , abominate , detest , and loathe . While all these words mean "to feel strong aversion or intense dislike for," hate implies an emotional aversion often coupled with enmity or malice. When would abhor be a good substitute for hate ? The meanings of abhor and hate largely overlap; however, abhor implies a deep often shuddering repugnance. When might abominate be a better fit than hate ? The synonyms abominate and hate are sometimes interchangeable, but abominate suggests strong detestation and often moral condemnation. When can detest be used instead of hate ? While in some cases nearly identical to hate , detest suggests violent antipathy. When is it sensible to use loathe instead of hate ? While the synonyms loathe and hate are close in meaning, loathe implies utter disgust and intolerance. Example Sentences Hate him, despise him, be jealous of his wealth, but support his efforts to destroy Iran and hopefully end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel , 31 Aug. 2026 The zombies despise water and are connected to a lab experiment that involves chimps (the special effects get a bit iffy there). — Randy Myers, Mercury News , 26 Aug. 2026 The defense kept prodding James to tell more about the Compton gang war, the hatred between both sides, what really happened on that night in Las Vegas. — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter , 1 Sep. 2026 His hatred of the Islamic State group appears genuine, and American cooperation with Damascus against the terrorist network will benefit the Syrians who suffered most under its rule. — Jason M. Blazakis, The Conversation , 27 Aug. 2026 They can be seen as the external expression of an aspect of America our true-believing enemies have learned to hate and fear. — Robert Stone, Rolling Stone , 11 Sep. 2026 Heath Ledger’s Joker is an enemy who doesn’t play by the rules, attacking the city with no clear political goal beyond creating panic and chaos. — Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times , 11 Sep. 2026 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 What caught him by surprise was the conversation around fat- phobia that accompanied the film’s release. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times , 9 Sep. 2026 Prisoners just always have this phobia of the world moving on from them. — Literary Hub, Literary Hub , 2 Sep. 2026 The other is that Republicans’ antipathy towards vote-by-mail is waning. — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com , 1 June 2026 Alexander Kazakov | Afp | Getty Images That Russia and China are seen as ideologically aligned on many geopolitical issues, with each sharing a traditional antipathy and distrust towards the West, and Washington. — Holly Ellyatt, CNBC , 20 May 2026 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 What are the implications when much of humanity witnesses the same pyrotechnic abomination at the same time? — David Friend, Vanity Fair , 10 Sep. 2026 It a thematic fit, and after nearly 200 episodes, there’s no doubting this team’s ability to deliver fresh, new abominations . — Ben Travers, IndieWire , 17 Aug. 2026 Browse Nearby Words Cite this Entry “Hate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hate. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! More from Merriam-Webster Word of the Day See Definitions and Examples » Get Word of the Day daily email! 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? Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'? What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'? 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 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