What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hated
Example
I hated the movie because it was too violent. [hated: past tense]
Example
She has always hated spiders since she was a child. [hated: verb]
detest
Example
I detest the taste of cilantro in my food. [detest: verb]
Example
He detests his boss for being unfair and rude. [detests: present tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Hated is more commonly used than detest in everyday language. Hated is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while detest is less common and is typically used in more formal or literary contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hated and detest?
Detest is more formal than hated and is typically used in more serious or literary contexts. Hated is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
