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as in sweat
a state of nervous or irritated concern
he worked himself into a lather waiting for the results of the test
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly
the farmer lathered the recalcitrant mule
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lather
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 1 Jan. 2026
After missing the initial two games of the Hornets’ road trip in New York, mostly because the team’s performance staff thought resting his left shoulder was a good idea, Brandon Miller worked up a serious lather, getting into form for his first action in nearly a week.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 6 Dec. 2025
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 25 Dec. 2025
Time to lather up before your next trip.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lather
Noun
Sean Payton is starting to work himself into a lather about it.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 1 Jan. 2026
After missing the initial two games of the Hornets’ road trip in New York, mostly because the team’s performance staff thought resting his left shoulder was a good idea, Brandon Miller worked up a serious lather, getting into form for his first action in nearly a week.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 6 Dec. 2025
Verb
Simply lather a thick coating of petroleum jelly onto the scratch.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 25 Dec. 2025
Time to lather up before your next trip.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lather
Noun
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Featuring plush foam cushioning, classic linen upholstery, and durable wood legs, the piece adds extra seating that’s easy to coordinate with a range of decor styles.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Jan. 2026
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After all, there’s hardly a shortage of tinctures, foams, and other elixirs that promise rapid hair-sprouting benefits.—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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With a dust and waterproof rating of IP57, the earbuds can also shrug off moisture and sweat, whether jogging in the rain or enduring a punishing workout.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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Geoff Scott, former head of medicine and sports science at Tottenham Hotspur, told The Athletic’s Sarah Shephard that, in hot conditions, players lose water through sweat, as well as electrolytes, and that the depletion of the likes of sodium, chloride and potassium can be significant.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Mitch West, meanwhile, was licking his wounds on Monday night, when snow still hadn’t touched down in his region of South Carolina.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
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England’s Test team are still licking their wounds after their humbling Down Under.—
Sam Dalling,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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As much as Payton bristles about media storylines and huffs about tempo questions, the Broncos went 25 minutes without a first down against Las Vegas.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
22 Nov. 2025
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After 36 minutes of cagey huff-and-puff, Arsenal’s clean-sheet record was spoiled again in game nine of their run, though, as in 1903, their undefeatedness in that stretch was to remain intact.—
Michael Walker,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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San Benito County Sheriff Eric Taylor took to social media Thursday to lash out at bystanders who record police encounters and critics of law enforcement, following a violent Wednesday crime spree that ended with a suspect dead and a police officer wounded.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
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But the evidence suggests that people who rely on bursts of venting tend to stay angrier for longer, and are more likely to lash out aggressively.—
Will Barker,
TheWeek,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The greatest concern is along the North Carolina Outer Banks and into the Virginia Tidewater region, where strong winds, high surf and beach erosion could lead to overwash and flooding in vulnerable coastal communities.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
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Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous surf and NEVER turn your back on the ocean.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Witnesses described scenes of panic as flames spread rapidly through the basement level before engulfing the upper floor.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
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Kaitlin spent the first weeks of her newborn son’s life in a panic.—
Lucas Waldron,
ProPublica,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Even then, though, leadership didn’t whip against the bill, which ultimately passed with seven Democrats voting in favor.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
30 Jan. 2026
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In an age when polarized politics have whipped extremists into a frenzy and disagreeing with someone’s views justifies physical assault among fringe elements, the assault on Omar is a new abysmal milestone of societal degradation.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lather. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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