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As I understand them, when used as nouns they both mean the same: a strong feeling of dislike, but I'm not sure about how "intense" are each one related to the other.

Does one of them represent a stronger feeling than the other, or their difference resides more in the context where they are used?

StoneyB on hiatus
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2 Answers2

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Hate and hatred, when used as nouns, have the same meaning. The difference between them is that hate is also used as modifier (e.g. a hate campaign), while hatred is not used as modifier (as it would be in a hatred campaign).

apaderno
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    By *modifier*, do you mean adjective? – mcalex Jan 26 '13 at 03:44
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    I mean a noun that is used as attribute of another noun. A modifier precedes the noun that modifies, and it can be an adjective, such as in _good family house_. (Both _good_ and _family_ are modifiers of _house_). – apaderno Jan 26 '13 at 04:23
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    hate can be used as a noun? So I could say `my hate`? – Jonathan de M. Feb 06 '13 at 15:31
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    @JonathandeM. _Hate_ is a verb, and a noun. In _feelings of hate and revenge_, _hate_ is a noun. I am not sure about saying _my hate_, but I guess it is like saying _my dislike_. If one is acceptable, then also the other one should be acceptable. Probably it should be _my hating_, and _my disliking_. – apaderno Feb 06 '13 at 15:39
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    *hatred campaign* is perfectly grammatical. There are no nouns that cannot be clumped with other nouns to make a noun phrase. – Kaz Oct 20 '13 at 16:08
  • @JonathandeM. Yes. For example, "My hate for him began when he shot my dog." I think almost anyplace where you say "hatred" you could say "hate", without changing the meaning. – Jay Dec 08 '15 at 14:48
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Hate is the verb, hatred the noun. Hate is also used as a noun, but hatred is not a verb.

From an intensity viewpoint, and when used in a noun context, there is no difference i.e. hate = hatred.

The hate he felt for her matched the hatred she felt for him. You could switch the two words around in that sentence with no difference to the meaning.

Mohit
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