hatred

noun

ha·​tred ˈhā-trəd How to pronounce hatred (audio)
1
: extreme dislike or disgust : hate
2
: ill will or resentment that is usually mutual : prejudiced hostility or animosity
old racial prejudices and national hatredsPeter Thomson

Examples of hatred in a Sentence

He had an irrational fear and hatred of foreigners. She makes no attempt to conceal her hatred for her opponents. This troubled city is filled with hatred, prejudice, crime, and fear. The war was fueled by hatreds that were centuries old.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Years of mud-slinging would follow and their hatred for each other seemed to only intensify. Kyle Eustice, SPIN, 21 Nov. 2024 In 2021, Frances Haugen, a former Facebook employee, blew the whistle on the company’s role in spreading disinformation and the increase in racial hatred. Meriem Mahdhi, WIRED, 1 Nov. 2024 Members of the House minority have called the hearings an attempt by the chamber’s Republicans to use campus unrest for political gain, pointing out that equal attention has not been given to anti-Muslim or anti-Arab hatred, which have also increased since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024 Tribalism forms connections based on ignorance and shared hatred. Dan Berger, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hatred 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hatrede, from hate hate entry 1 + -rede, suffix denoting state or quality, going back to Old English -rǣden — more at kindred entry 2

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hatred was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near hatred

Cite this Entry

“Hatred.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hatred. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

hatred

noun
ha·​tred ˈhā-trəd How to pronounce hatred (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on hatred

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!