What does "hateful" mean?

1. (causing strong dislike) very unpleasant or cruel, making you feel a strong sense of dislike or anger. 2. (showing hate or bigotry) full of hate toward a person or a group, often because of their race, religion, or identity.

hateful

adj.

US //ˈheɪtfəɫ// UK //hˈeɪtfəl// hate·ful

1 causing strong dislike (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

very unpleasant or cruel, making you feel a strong sense of dislike or anger.

evoking intense aversion, hostility, or resentment due to perceived cruelty or malice.

Example

The dictator was responsible for many hateful crimes against his own people.

Example

The regime's history is marked by hateful acts of violence that continue to haunt the survivors decades later.
- loathsome
- detestable
- vile
- lovable
- delightful
2 showing hate or bigotry (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

full of hate toward a person or a group, often because of their race, religion, or identity.

manifesting or expressing intense malice, often specifically in the context of prejudice or bigotry.

Example

The website was taken down because it was full of hateful comments about immigrants.

Example

The legislation was designed to curb the spread of hateful rhetoric that targets vulnerable minority groups in the digital sphere.

Teacher's tip

In modern social contexts, this sense is frequently used in the phrase 'hateful speech' or 'hate speech' to describe bigoted language.
- kind
- tolerant

Origin

From Middle English hateful. By surface analysis, hate + -ful.