Meanings
- To express hatred — or to use the word hate — is a powerful action that should not be done or taken lightly.
“Don’t you like smart little girls?” said Mrs. Tracy. / “No,” said Emma; “Jane Eaton was our smartest scholar, and we all hated her.” / “Hate is a strong word,” said Mrs. Tracy; “what did she do to incur your hatred?”
1849 November 1, The Common School Journal: Vol 11 Iss 212 more examples
Little Mary Moreton was sitting by her mother’s side, hemming a pocket handkerchief. “How I do hate proud people !” suddenly exclaimed she, pulling through her needle with such violence as to break her thread. / Her mother looked up and said, smiling, “Hate is a strong word, Mary.” / “Well, mother, I can’t help it; there’s Julia Fearing —I cannot bear her.[…]
1841 February 26, Youth's Companion: Vol 14 Iss 42"I hate Mary Hardcastle," said Violet. / "Why?" / "I don't know, but I hate her." / "Silly child!" said Rose; "she's always saying kind things to you." / "And always doing unkind ones," rejoined Violet, sharply. / "Hate is a strong word, Violet," said Blanche. / "Not stronger than I want," replied the high-spirited little girl.
1848, George Henry Lewes, Three Sisters and Three Fortunes : Or, Rose, Blanche, and Violet
Cite this entry
hate is a strong word. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hate%20is%20a%20strong%20word
“hate is a strong word.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hate%20is%20a%20strong%20word. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hate is a strong word,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hate%20is%20a%20strong%20word.
Source: hate is a strong word on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.