Definition of loath
: unwilling to do something contrary to one's ways of thinking : reluctant She was loath to admit her mistakes.
loathness
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Examples of loath in a Sentence
She was loath to admit her mistakes.
I was loath to accept his claim of having climbed Mount Everest.
Recent Examples of loath from the Web
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But with millions of Americans newly insured under the law, many governors, including some Republicans, are loath to roll it back, and many senators agree.
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The issue has always been a sensitive one for lawmakers, many of whom are loath to pick sides in a fight between powerful corporations such as Wal-Mart and JPMorgan Chase.
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As for the next few weeks, analysts are loath to forecast a return to the glory days of February and early March, when the Net or tech IPOs more than doubled in its first day of trading.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'loath'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Many usage commentators point out that the spelling of loath the adjective is distinct from loathe, the verb that means "to dislike greatly." Merriam-Webster dictionaries record loathe (along with loth) as a variant spelling for the adjective, at the same time indicating that the spelling with an e is not as common as the form without it. Both words hark back to Old English, and the e ending in each has come and gone over the centuries - but if you want to avoid the ire of those who like to keep the language tidy, stick with loath for the adjective and loathe for the verb.
Origin and Etymology of loath
Middle English loth loathsome, from Old English lāth; akin to Old High German leid loathsome, Old Irish lius loathing
First Known Use: 12th century
Synonym Discussion of loath
LOATH Defined for English Language Learners
loath
playDefinition of loath for English Language Learners
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: not wanting or willing to do something
LOATH Defined for Kids
loath
playloth
\ˈlōth, ˈlōth\Definition of loath for Students
: not willing He was loath to admit mistakes.
Learn More about loath
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See words that rhyme with loath Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for loath Spanish Central: Translation of loath Nglish: Translation of loath for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of loath for Arabic speakers
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