hate

The word “hate” means to dislike someone or something intensely. In plain terms, a strong negative feeling toward someone or something — or, in slang, the abusive comments people send online.

“Hate” is pronounced hayt (/heɪt/ in IPA).

Here is “hate” used in a sentence: “She hates getting up early.”

Words with a similar meaning to “hate” include abhor, abominate, can't stand, can't stand the sight of, despise and detest.

The opposite of “hate” — its antonyms — is love.

Depending on how it is used, “hate” can be a verb and a noun.

The word “hate” comes from Old English. From Old English hatian ("to hate") and hete ("hatred"), both going back to a very old Germanic root for strong negative emotion.

“Hate” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

The difference is intensity. To dislike something is a mild, everyday reaction, meaning you'd rather avoid it. To hate something is far stronger, an intense and often emotional aversion. Hate can carry real hostility, whereas dislike is calm and moderate. That's why 'hate' should be used more carefully than 'dislike.'

Both mean intense dislike, but 'loathe' is even more forceful and adds a note of disgust or revulsion. If you hate something, you feel strong aversion; if you loathe it, you can hardly stand to be near it. 'Loathe' is the more emphatic, more visceral of the two words.

The clearest opposite of 'hate' is 'love,' its natural counterpart in intensity. Milder opposites include 'like,' 'enjoy,' and 'adore,' depending on how strong the positive feeling is. Where hate expresses intense aversion, love expresses intense affection, making the two the strongest opposing emotions in everyday language.

Yes, 'hate' is one of the strongest words for negative feeling, expressing intense dislike or hostility. Because it's so forceful, people often soften it in polite conversation, saying 'I'm not keen on it' instead. Used sincerely, it signals real aversion, so many speakers reserve it for things they genuinely can't stand.