loathe

verb

loathed; loathing

transitive verb

: to dislike greatly and often with disgust or intolerance : detest
loather noun
Choose the Right Synonym for loathe

hate, detest, abhor, abominate, loathe mean to feel strong aversion or intense dislike for.

hate implies an emotional aversion often coupled with enmity or malice.

hated the enemy with a passion

detest suggests violent antipathy.

detests cowards

abhor implies a deep often shuddering repugnance.

a crime abhorred by all

abominate suggests strong detestation and often moral condemnation.

abominates all forms of violence

loathe implies utter disgust and intolerance.

loathed the mere sight of them

Examples of loathe in a Sentence

In fact, he was an energetic walker his whole life, but he loathed fresh-air fiends and he was rather stuck on the idea of being dissolute. Paul Theroux, New York Times Book Review, 21 Apr. 1991
How I loathed the look of that type on my pages! Everything I wrote seemed, in that type, arrhythmic, dull, stupid. Joseph Epstein, The Middle of My Tether, 1983
I loathed the job so much that I did it quickly, urgently, almost violently. W. P. Kinsella, Shoeless Joe, 1982
Pushing the table from him while he spoke, as though he loathed the sight of food, he encountered the watch: the hands of which were almost upon noon. Charles Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby, 1839
They were rivals who truly loathed each other. I loathe having to do this. It was a habit his wife loathed.
Recent Examples on the Web 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 Politicians loathe explaining it at any time, but especially three months before an election. Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 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.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English lothen, from Old English lāthian to dislike, be hateful, from lāth

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of loathe was in the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near loathe

Cite this Entry

“Loathe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loathe. Accessed 9 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

loathe

verb
loathed; loathing
: to feel extreme disgust for or at
loathe the smell of burning rubber
loather noun

More from Merriam-Webster on loathe

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