loathing

noun

loath·​ing ˈlō-t͟hiŋ How to pronounce loathing (audio)
: extreme disgust : detestation
She regarded his hypocrisy with loathing.

Examples of loathing in a Sentence

She expressed her intense loathing of his hypocrisy. She regarded his hypocrisy with loathing.
Recent Examples on the Web Sessa, now twenty-one, is lanky, with a pouf of curly hair and narrow eyes that easily convey loathing, or loneliness. Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 4 Dec. 2023 When the original Red and Blue compilations dropped in April 1973, Klein selected the track list, a fact that would have horrified the millions of fans who loved these records while loathing Klein. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2023 The author’s admiration for Babe’s perfection (which Watts more than lives up to) is vividly represented and coexists with a subtextual loathing for the elite circles that rejected his mother, who in turn rejected him. Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2024 Moscow’s partnership with Tehran is now explicit, and centered on arms sales and mutual loathing of the United States. Christian Schneider, National Review, 21 Dec. 2023 Ariana and Tom are still living together despite loathing each other. Olivia Truffaut-Wong, refinery29.com, 27 Dec. 2023 On the one hand were shrines, images, sacred objects; on the other, a fierce love of formlessness born out of a loathing of consecrated ground, idols and clergy. Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023 At times, however, this loathing expresses itself in fighting words from the corridors of Eton, where both men went to school. Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 6 Oct. 2023 Their own feelings often encompass fierce criticisms of the Israeli government’s actions, loathing of Hamas and sympathy for the plight of innocents on all sides of the conflict. Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'loathing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of loathing was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near loathing

Cite this Entry

“Loathing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loathing. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

loathing

noun
loath·​ing
ˈlō-t͟hiŋ
: very great dislike : extreme disgust

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