Cool MateDespise vs Detest vs Hate what
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Despise
Detest
Top 5,000 (fairly common)B1verb
Hate what
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Hate what
| Despise | Detest | Hate what | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //dɪˈtɛst//🇺🇸 //dɪˈtɛst// | 🇬🇧 //heɪt wɒt//🇺🇸 //heɪt wɑt// | |
| Meaning | To hate something very much. | To feel strong dislike for something or someone. | |
| Example | - | I detest waiting in long lines at the grocery store. | I really hate what they've done to this park. |
| Register | - | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | - | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | ||
| Collocations | - | detest doing something, detest the idea, detest with a passion | hate what you see, hate what they did, hate what it represents |
| Antonyms | - | love, admire, appreciate | - |
| Common mistakes | - | Confusing with 'dislike' which is less intense., Incorrect use with gerunds (e.g., 'detest to swim' is wrong). | Confused with 'dislike' - 'hate' is much stronger., Using 'hate' in a formal context where a milder word would be better., Neglecting to specify what is hated, making the phrase unclear. |
| Usage notes | - | Use in formal and neutral contexts. Avoid in casual conversations; it may sound too strong for minor dislikes. | Used to express strong negative feelings. Can be used in everyday conversation but may come off as very intense depending on context. |
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Frequently asked questions: Despise vs Detest vs Hate what
What's the difference between Despise, Detest, and Hate what?
Despise: Detest: To hate something very much. Hate what: To feel strong dislike for something or someone.
Which is more common: Despise, Detest, and Hate what?
Hate what is the most common in everyday English.
Can I use Despise, Detest, and Hate what interchangeably?
Not always. Despise, Detest, and Hate what are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.