What is the Difference Between Dislike and Hate?

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The difference between "dislike" and "hate" lies in the degree and strength of the negative feeling towards someone or something. Both words describe a negative feeling, but they differ in their intensity:

  • Dislike: This term suggests a mild or moderate negative feeling or lack of preference towards something or someone. It indicates a lesser degree of resentment or a simple preference against something without a strong emotional component. Disliking a person is more hopeful in purpose, and it does not carry any unpleasant memories of the past. You dislike a person, but you do not hate that person.
  • Hate: This term conveys a more strong and intense negative feeling or extreme hostility towards something or someone. Hate represents a deep emotional or personal repulsion, often accompanied by anger, resentment, or a desire for harm. When you hate someone, you consider them an enemy and a threat, and you might obsess over them, wish ill on them, and try to convince others of how horrible and evil they are. Hating a person is hopeless in purpose and often derived from fear or anger.

Comparative Table: Dislike vs Hate

The difference between "dislike" and "hate" can be summarized as follows:

Dislike Hate
A less strong and more formal word, indicating a mild or moderate negative feeling or lack of preference towards someone or something. A stronger word than "dislike," conveying a more intense negative feeling or extreme hostility towards someone or something.
Carries with it the sense of aversion. Carries with it an extreme hostility, often derived from fear or anger.
Dislike is a feeling, while hate is an emotion. Both dislike and hate are negative feelings, but they differ in their degree and strength.
You dislike someone when you don't like their ways, but you like them in general. You carry spite with you when you hate someone.
Dislike does not carry unpleasant memories of the past, whereas hate does. You dislike non-living things (e.g., you dislike bananas).

In summary, "dislike" is a milder term that reflects a less intense negative feeling, while "hate" is a stronger term that conveys extreme hostility and a deeper emotional or personal repulsion.