Hate vs. Despise — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 1, 2024
Hate signifies strong aversion or intense dislike; despise involves a sense of contempt or scorn towards something deemed worthless or inferior.
Difference Between Hate and Despise
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Hate and despise are both negative emotions that reflect a person's feelings towards something or someone. While hate is characterized by an intense dislike or aversion, despise takes this a step further by incorporating a sense of scorn or contempt. Both emotions are strong but differ in their intensity and the reasons behind them.
Hate is a powerful emotion that can stem from various causes such as fear, prejudice, or past experiences. It is often directed towards things, concepts, or people that one finds profoundly objectionable or harmful. On the other hand, despise implies a deeper level of disdain, often reserved for things or people considered to be morally reprehensible or beneath consideration.
While hate can sometimes be passive or born out of ignorance, despising someone or something usually requires a more deliberate judgment. To despise implies an evaluation of worthlessness or inferiority, suggesting that the despised object or person does not deserve any respect or attention. Hate, however, might not always involve a judgment of inferiority.
Hate can sometimes be transformed or mitigated through understanding or compassion, as it might stem from misunderstanding or lack of knowledge. Despise, however, is often rooted in a more permanent perception of the other’s unworthiness, making it a more steadfast and challenging emotion to reconcile.
In social contexts, expressing hate might still be considered within the realm of strong dislike, whereas to express despise is to make a clear statement of considering someone or something as utterly worthless. This distinction highlights the nuanced levels of negativity that despise conveys over hate.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Intense dislike or aversion
Contempt or scorn
Basis
Fear, prejudice, experiences
Moral judgment, worthlessness
Intensity
Strong
Stronger
Potential for change
Can be mitigated
More permanent
Social Acceptability
Somewhat acceptable
Less acceptable
Compare with Definitions
Hate
A passionate rejection or opposition.
Her hate for the new policy was evident in her protests.
Despise
To look down upon something as worthless.
She despises laziness, always encouraging others to be proactive.
Hate
A disdainful feeling towards concepts or ideologies.
There's a growing hate for corruption among the youth.
Despise
To reject something with disdain.
They despise the idea of cheating to succeed.
Hate
Intense aversion to someone or something.
She developed a hate for injustice after witnessing inequality.
Despise
Regard with contempt or scorn.
He despises dishonesty in any form, considering it beneath him.
Hate
A feeling of animosity and hostility.
His hate for the rival team fans often led to confrontations.
Despise
A scornful rejection of morally reprehensible actions.
He despises corruption, dedicating his career to fighting it.
Hate
A deep dislike or antipathy.
He has a profound hate for broccoli, refusing to even try it.
Despise
Feelings of superiority over something deemed inferior.
She despises reality TV shows, believing them to be of no intellectual value.
Hate
To feel strong dislike for or hostility toward
Rivals who hate each other.
Despise
Feel contempt or a deep repugnance for
He despised himself for being selfish
Hate
To feel dislike or distaste for
Hates washing dishes.
Hates to get up early.
Despise
To regard with contempt or scorn
Despised all cowards and flatterers.
Hate
To be disinclined (to do something) out of politeness or a need to apologize
I hate to interrupt, but can I ask you a quick question?.
Despise
To dislike intensely; loathe
Despised the frigid weather in January.
Hate
To feel hatred.
Despise
To regard with contempt or scorn.
James still despises his brother for the time he pushed him out of a tree during their childhood.
Hate
Intense animosity or dislike; hatred.
Despise
To disregard or ignore.
Hate
An object of hatred.
One of my pet hates is traffic wardens.
Despise
To look down upon with disfavor or contempt; to contemn; to scorn; to disdain; to have a low opinion or contemptuous dislike of.
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Men naturally despise those who court them, but respect those who do not give way to them.
Hate
Hatred.
He gave me a look filled with pure hate.
Despise
Look down on with disdain;
He despises the people he has to work for
The professor scorns the students who don't catch on immediately
Hate
(Internet slang) Negative feedback, abusive behaviour.
There was a lot of hate in the comments on my vlog about Justin Bieber from his fans.
Hate
(transitive) To dislike intensely or greatly.
Hate
(intransitive) To experience hatred.
Do not fear; he who fears hates; he who hates kills. — attributed to Gandhi
Hate
To have a great aversion to, with a strong desire that evil should befall the person toward whom the feeling is directed; to dislike intensely; to detest; as, to hate one's enemies; to hate hypocrisy.
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer.
Hate
To be very unwilling; followed by an infinitive, or a substantive clause with that; as, to hate to get into debt; to hate that anything should be wasted.
I hate that he should linger here.
Hate
To love less, relatively.
Hate
Strong aversion coupled with desire that evil should befall the person toward whom the feeling is directed; as exercised toward things, intense dislike; hatred; detestation; - opposed to love.
For in a wink the false love turns to hate.
Hate
The emotion of hate; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action
Hate
Dislike intensely; feel antipathy or aversion towards;
I hate Mexican food
She detests politicians
Common Curiosities
Is it possible to stop hating something?
Hate can sometimes be mitigated or transformed through understanding, compassion, or changing perspectives.
How is despising different from hating?
Despising involves a deeper level of contempt or scorn, often reserved for things or individuals considered morally reprehensible or inferior.
What does it mean to hate something?
Hate signifies an intense dislike or strong aversion towards something or someone, often rooted in fear, prejudice, or negative experiences.
Why do people despise certain things?
People despise certain things due to moral judgments, a sense of superiority, or because they deem them utterly worthless or contemptible.
Is despising something stronger than hating it?
Yes, despising is often considered stronger than hating because it involves a sense of scorn or contempt beyond mere dislike.
Are hate and despise always negative?
While primarily negative, these emotions can sometimes drive positive actions, like combating injustice or corruption.
How do societies view hate and despise?
Societies typically view both emotions negatively, though despise is often seen as more socially unacceptable due to its contemptuous aspect.
Can hate turn into despise?
Yes, hate can evolve into despise if it incorporates elements of moral judgment and perceived worthlessness.
How do hate and despise influence behavior?
These emotions can influence behavior by motivating actions to avoid, confront, or eliminate the object of hate or contempt.
Is it unhealthy to hate or despise?
While normal in moderation, excessive hate or despise can be harmful to one's mental and emotional well-being.
How do hate and despise affect relationships?
Both emotions can negatively affect relationships, with despise potentially causing more profound damage due to its contemptuous nature.
Do hate and despise require action?
While these emotions can motivate action, they don't necessarily require it; they can also exist as passive feelings.
Can someone hate and despise the same thing?
Yes, it's possible to both hate and despise the same thing, with despise adding a layer of contempt to the intense dislike.
Can hate or despise be justified?
In some contexts, these emotions might be considered justifiable reactions to moral wrongs or injustices.
Can education change feelings of hate or despise?
Education and exposure to different perspectives can help mitigate feelings of hate and sometimes even dispel despise.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
