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 Conservatives are often accused of being divisive, hateful and exclusionary. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 June 2026 Authorities suspect Mullis placed antisemitic flyers showing hateful symbols such as a noose, a swastika and imagery associated with the German Nazi Party. — Maveah Griffith june 12, Charlotte Observer, 12 June 2026 On Sunday, June 14, UFC fighter Josh Hokit took the opportunity after his win on the White House lawn to repeat a hateful lie about the former first lady. — Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026 Resolutions passed on immigration and political violence Later Wednesday, SBC messengers approved a resolutions denouncing political violence and hateful speech. — Peter Smith, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hateful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hateful

Adjective

According to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, 37-year-old Adam Mazur-Baker was arraigned Tuesday on one count of using a computer to commit a crime and one count of malicious use of telecommunications services.

— DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 2 July 2026
This command executes malicious code inside the AppleScript directly.

— Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026

Definition of malicious

Adjective

The heat has become so unbearable in Japan that weather officials in April announced a new term for days when maximum temperatures exceed 104 degrees — kokushobi, meaning harsh or cruel heat, according to the Japan Times.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
For thousands of Venezuelans, however, the lack of definitive answers has become one of the tragedy’s cruelest consequences.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026

Definition of cruel

Adjective

Including some rather nasty, big corpo bullies who enlist specialist teams to hunt down clues, and other players, too.

— Grace Dean, Space.com, 1 July 2026
Betty Kovacs, the eldest daughter of comedian Ernie Kovacs who with her sister Kippie and stepmother, actress-singer Edie Adams, was at the center of a nasty custody battle that kept Hollywood riveted in 1962, has died.

— Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 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 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of hateful

adjective

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