HATEFUL Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

hateful

adjective

ˈhāt-fəl

Definition of hateful

as in malicious

having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it the girl's classmates were bullying her online, sending her hateful e-mails and text messages

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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.

Recent Examples of hateful Evil Dead Burn isn’t as baldly hateful toward women as the hypersuccessful, low budget Obsession. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 10 July 2026 After about a month, when the social media and news backlash started to settle down, Johnson said the hateful comments stopped coming in. — Elijah Polance, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026 Social media sites used for hateful comments Pumphrey made threatening posts on the social media platform YouTube and other social media sites, according to the guilty plea. — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 30 June 2026 Political podcasters such as Tucker Carlson peddle conspiracies and lies, and there seems to be little consequence for hateful rhetoric. — Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hateful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hateful

Adjective

These errors can cause crashes or enable attackers to exploit memory vulnerabilities, risking data corruption or executing malicious code.

— Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Elijah Bieniemy, who is 27 and is a graduate of Olathe Northwest High School, has been charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm during the commission of a felony and discharge of a firearm inside of a dwelling.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026

Definition of malicious

Adjective

The drastic measures Alice takes to end this vicious cycle naturally bring her closer to Catherine’s school of violent retribution.

— Alison Herman, Variety, 27 July 2026
Despite the powerful action and vicious fight scenes the franchise is known for, Laufey is still shaping up as a bit of a love story.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026

Definition of vicious

Adjective

Katherine MacGregor Katherine MacGregor played nasty gossip Harriet Oleson on the show.

— Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026
And with peak travel season underway, millions of people may have to contend with this disorienting condition, which can cause sleep disturbances, daytime tiredness, headaches and nasty gastrointestinal symptoms.

— Laura Ungar, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026

Definition of nasty

Browse Nearby Words

hated

hateful

hatefully

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“Hateful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hateful. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of hateful

adjective

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