hatred
HAYT-rihd
Hatred (noun) means an intense, deep-seated dislike or hostility toward someone or something. Example: “Years of conflict had bred a mutual hatred between the two families.”
noun
1
An intense, deep-seated dislike or hostility toward someone or something.
"Years of conflict had bred a mutual hatred between the two families."
"She couldn't hide her hatred of dishonesty."
How to use hatred
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA very strong, lasting dislike — stronger and more serious than ordinary dislike or annoyance.
Common mistake
Hatred is generally reserved for serious, deep emotion; for everyday annoyance, "dislike" or "distaste" reads more naturally.
Common pairings
deep hatred
hatred of
fuelled by hatred
a campaign of hatred
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Word forms
- Plural
- hatreds
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Years of conflict had bred a mutual _____ between the two families.
Etymology
From Middle English haterede, built from hate plus an old suffix marking a state or condition — the same pattern seen in "kindred."
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “hatred” mean?
The word “hatred” means an intense, deep-seated dislike or hostility toward someone or something. In plain terms, a very strong, lasting dislike — stronger and more serious than ordinary dislike or annoyance.
How do you pronounce “hatred”?
“Hatred” is pronounced HAYT-rihd (/ˈheɪtɹɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “hatred” in a sentence?
Here is “hatred” used in a sentence: “Years of conflict had bred a mutual hatred between the two families.”
What part of speech is “hatred”?
“Hatred” is a noun.
Where does the word “hatred” come from?
The word “hatred” comes from Middle English. From Middle English haterede, built from hate plus an old suffix marking a state or condition — the same pattern seen in "kindred.".
Is “hatred” a common word?
“Hatred” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between "hate" and "hatred"?
As nouns they are close synonyms for intense dislike, but "hatred" sounds slightly more formal and is preferred for deep-seated, lasting hostility ("an old hatred between the families"). "Hate" is also a verb, which "hatred" never is, and "hate" appears in fixed compounds such as "hate mail."
Do you say "hatred of," "hatred for," or "hatred toward"?
All three are correct. "Hatred of" is the most common pattern ("a hatred of injustice"), "hatred for" often personalizes the feeling ("her hatred for her rival"), and "hatred toward" (or "towards") stresses the direction of the hostility. The meaning barely changes, so choose whichever reads most naturally.
What is the difference between hatred and contempt?
Hatred is intense, deep-seated hostility toward someone or something, while contempt is the feeling that someone is worthless or beneath consideration. Contempt always looks downward, whereas you can hate an equal or something more powerful than yourself. The two can coexist, but contempt centers on disrespect rather than burning dislike.
Is "hatred" stronger than "dislike"?
Yes, much stronger. Dislike is mild aversion, while hatred sits at the extreme end of the same scale, meaning intense, deep-seated hostility. Words such as "distaste," "aversion," and "animosity" fall between the two, so careful writers save "hatred" for genuinely extreme feeling.
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