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 do record loathe (along with loth) as a variant spelling for the adjective, but at the same time indicate that the loath spelling is the most common one. The adjective and the verb both 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.
Examples of loath in a Sentence
Susan Page, USA Today, 5 June 2025
But Denver officials, fearful of repeating past mistakes from the urban renewal era, are loath to tear down the titans.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 29 May 2025
Many executives at networks owned by Paramount Global are loath to take big swings and run up more costs, says the person familiar with the matter, as the parent company pushes to consummate its acquisition by Skydance Media.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 26 Mar. 2025
Joshua Kimmich remains the best right-back at the club, but is loath to play the position.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for loath
Cite this Entry
“Loath.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loath. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy Citation
Share