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loathsome

adjective

ˈlōth-səm How to pronounce loathsome (audio)
Definition of loathsomenext
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment we traced the foul smell to a pile of loathsome garbage by the back wall

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of loathsome Helping the audience understand loathsome people without understanding them is a more subtle, if equally essential, inheritance. — Alison Herman, Variety, 12 Apr. 2026 Most of Becket’s relatives are loathsome (Grace is funny as a fraudulent self-help quasi-religious guru), though his uncle (the great Bill Camp) is a decent fellow who wants to lend Becket a hand. — Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 18 Feb. 2026 In the show’s first episode, Jaquel Spivey, who starred in the Broadway production of A Strange Loop, a musical about the experience of being a self-hating fat gay Black man, is introduced as a loathsome incel. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2026 That’s why New York keeps filling up with loathsome real estate — big dumb buildings shaped by a plethora of constraints and corner-cutting conventions. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 28 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for loathsome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loathsome
  1. disgusting
  2. ugly
  3. awful
  4. horrible
  5. sickening
  6. hideous
  7. obnoxious
  8. obscene
Adjective
  • The better to act out empire’s idea of what disgusting demonic sickness looks like.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
  • These guys are disgusting over the radio in the heat of battle.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of disgusting
Adjective
  • Not many filmmakers can create something where moments as ugly as Billy’s scatological lectures coexist so elegantly with moments of honest longing and tragedy (and, in one or two moments, tentative hope).
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The hate being lobbed at Sheeran is also an unpleasant reminder of the extreme and ugly bullying tactics of the online left.
    — Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of ugly
Adjective
  • To Morrison, as well as to the filmmakers, this awful backstory makes something cathartic of his accomplishment.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • So the fact that there was this whole section of gay actors who weren’t allowed to do that is awful.
    — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of awful
Adjective
  • Much has been written about the power of artificial intelligence to improve life in myriad ways, but also about its truly horrible effects—now and going forward—if it isn’t managed properly.
    — Nadine Hack, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
  • But the horrible scenes that unfolded before him were incomparable.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of horrible
Adjective
  • Carter’s sickening spree ultimately came to an end after he was arrested by Detective Pete Willis.
    — Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Months later, with vaccination rates still dangerously low, measles broke out, sickening thousands.
    — Ali Swenson, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of sickening
Adjective
  • Another reason to feel supreme confidence in this team’s juggernaut potential is that Chicago’s defense appears to be just as hideous as the fantasy community had hoped.
    — Andy Behrens, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Three seconds later, I was surrounded by hideous monsters who were probably nice kids before the local NBC news devoted the feature story on their prime-time show Weekend to an in-depth study of English punk.
    — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of hideous
Adjective
  • Whether the actor is improvising or sticking closely to the script by Miles Hubley and Tommy White, Wilson’s talent and experience maintain the charm of a character who practically talks nonstop but in other hands could simply be obnoxious.
    — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Something specific that’s not too obnoxious and out of the box.
    — The Editors, Robb Report, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of obnoxious
Adjective
  • Last year, after signing a $132 million contract extension with the Pittsburgh Steelers following a trade, he was docked another $26,000 for fighting and making an obscene gesture.
    — Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • There was a dog’s leg that had been sewn on near a man’s crotch in a way that seemed like an obscene visual pun.
    — John Phipps, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of obscene

Browse Nearby Words

loathings
loathsome
loathsomeness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Loathsome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loathsome. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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