self-loathing

noun

self-loath·​ing ˌself-ˈlō-ṯẖiŋ 

: loathing of oneself : self-hatred

acting out of fear and self-loathing

… the idea that the self-absorption and egotism of the narcissist are a pose to mask their opposite: a deep well of self-loathing and low self-esteem.

—Jeffrey Kluger

self-loathing adjective

… his life as a self-loathing sensualist, an incautious but easily damaged artist …

—A. L. Kennedy

… stars as a self-loathing English writer who writes Hollywood sitcoms for his actress wife …

—Giselle Benatar

Examples of self-loathing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But where The Pitt centered Robby’s trauma and self-loathing and spun character interactions and relationships off of it all season long, Al-Hashimi was first a riddle to be solved, then a problem to be addressed. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026

For many athletes, an injury of this magnitude could lead them down a dark path of regret, anger and even self-loathing, but with help from his village at TCU, Ibukun-Okeyode was able to forge his own path. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2026

But inside, Floyd was filled with pain and self-loathing, fixated on being overweight and unattractive and, ultimately, unlovable. —Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2026

Martin-Cotten’s is an indelicate balance between out and out primal furies, parsed with flashes of vulnerability that seem as deeply felt as Martha’s self-loathing. —Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 13 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-loathing

• loathing