self-hate

noun

ˌself-ˈhāt How to pronounce self-hate (audio)
Synonyms of self-hatenext
: hatred directed toward oneself rather than toward others : self-hatred
Humans need self-love, not self-hate, but when you have a disorder which makes you anti-social, it's hard to be kind to yourself.—Jo Challacombe

Examples of self-hate in a Sentence

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.
The book is a journey from self-love to self-hate. — Amir Ahmadi Arian, The Dial, 15 Jan. 2026 There was some internal kind of self-hate, cultural hate in some ways. — Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2024 Andreeva listens and nods, then returns to self-hate too often. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 2 June 2026 Henry initially felt anxious about others possibly perceiving her decision to go blonde as an attempt to emulate whiteness or as an expression of self-hate. — Martine Thompson, Essence, 21 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-hate was in 1576

Browse Nearby Words

self-harm
self-hate
self-hating
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-hate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-hate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for self-hate

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