loathe

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb loathe contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of loathe are abhor, abominate, detest, and hate. While all these words mean "to feel strong aversion or intense dislike for," loathe implies utter disgust and intolerance.

loathed the mere sight of them

Where would abhor be a reasonable alternative to loathe?

While in some cases nearly identical to loathe, abhor implies a deep often shuddering repugnance.

a crime abhorred by all

In what contexts can abominate take the place of loathe?

In some situations, the words abominate and loathe are roughly equivalent. However, abominate suggests strong detestation and often moral condemnation.

abominates all forms of violence

When is it sensible to use detest instead of loathe?

The words detest and loathe can be used in similar contexts, but detest suggests violent antipathy.

detests cowards

When is hate a more appropriate choice than loathe?

The meanings of hate and loathe largely overlap; however, hate implies an emotional aversion often coupled with enmity or malice.

hated the enemy with a passion

Examples of loathe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Nasrallah, who was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut on Friday, was admired or loathed throughout the Middle East and beyond. Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2024 Doppel is a radical upcoming brand that loathes everything the fashion world today represents, but keeps in mind fashion history and creators like Martin Margiela. Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 20 Sep. 2024 Love it or loathe it, this type of scrappy recycling has long been the entry point for early career designers and fashion fans. Leah Dolan, CNN, 14 Aug. 2024 Many Arab governments loathe Hamas for its ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and Iran, both of which are political bogeymen for Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates in particular. Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 30 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for loathe 

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

Thesaurus Entries Near loathe

Cite this Entry

“Loathe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loathe. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on loathe

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