loathsome

adjective

loath·​some ˈlōth-səm How to pronounce loathsome (audio) ˈlōt͟h- How to pronounce loathsome (audio)
: giving rise to loathing : disgusting
a loathsome disease
Smoking is a loathsome habit.
loathsomely adverb
loathsomeness noun

Examples of loathsome in a Sentence

we traced the foul smell to a pile of loathsome garbage by the back wall
Recent Examples on the Web Scorsese reshaped the film’s narrative around DiCaprio’s Ernest Burkhart, who makes for an unconventional lead — a spineless factotum, alternately loving and loathsome. Vulture, 20 Oct. 2023 There is a new widow whose loathsome husband is kept alive by an app installed by her supposedly well-meaning sister. Ellen Akins, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2023 But through it all, Mahmood, who declined to participate in the series, remains a loathsome cipher, a shadowy cretin hiding behind his dubious self-identification as a journalist. Chris Vognar, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2023 Hunger and poverty are rampant, and Western countries often end up accidentally punishing the Afghan people for the loathsome policies of their leaders. Roya Rahmani, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2023 Tucker points to White’s knack for finding sympathetic qualities in even the most potentially loathsome characters, such as Jake Lacy’s callow newlywed in Season 1, or Theo James’ lying womanizer in Season 2. Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2023 It’s reached a crisis point in the past couple weeks—a disturbing and loathsome epidemic of fan aggression against performers. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 30 June 2023 Of all the recent trends in modern news media, few are as loathsome as the press taking its editorial cues from Twitter. Becket Adams, National Review, 25 June 2023 Marshall Chen was a loathsome man who everyone had reason to kill. Yvonne Zipp, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'loathsome.' 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 lothsum, from loth evil, from Old English lāth, from lāth, adjective

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of loathsome was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near loathsome

Cite this Entry

“Loathsome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loathsome. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

loathsome

adjective
loath·​some ˈlōth-səm How to pronounce loathsome (audio) ˈlōt͟h- How to pronounce loathsome (audio)
: very unpleasant : offensive
loathsomely adverb
loathsomeness noun

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