loathing 1 of 3

noun

ˈlō-t͟hiŋ How to pronounce loathing (audio)
Definition of loathingnext
1
as in disgust
a dislike so strong as to cause stomach upset or queasiness the sight of his mortal enemy getting that undeserved promotion filled him with loathing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hatred
a very strong dislike I have an uncompromising loathing for anyone who would deliberately harm an animal

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

loathing

2 of 3

adjective

as in hateful

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

loathing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of loathe
as in hating
to dislike strongly I simply loathe tapioca pudding

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of loathing
Noun
Factually, Victor Wembanyama could have sent New York Knicks fans into fits of loathing. — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 9 June 2026 Niall tells Ruben that his hurtful language over the years was a big part of his endless self-loathing. — Barry Levitt, Time, 29 May 2026
Verb
Hathaway, an 11-year NHL veteran, now goes from loathing seeing the Panthers to being one of them. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 29 June 2026 That still is win-now basketball, which is all the lottery-loathing Heat continue to preach. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 23 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for loathing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loathing
  1. disgust
  2. hatred
  3. hateful
  4. hating
  5. distaste
  6. contemptuous
  7. scornful
Noun
  • Eating disorders, as those in recovery have stressed, thrive on the pathological evidence of their symptoms, spinning negative attention—concern, disgust—into fatal affirmations.
    — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2026
  • His shock engagement to Sarita (Hannah Simone), the brainy, beautiful sister of de facto trooper leader Thorny (director Jay Chandrasekhar), pits brother against family and bro against bro, even if Farva doesn’t register his colleague’s disgust.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of disgust
Noun
  • Christian leaders, along with the mayor of Dearborn and the chief of police, came together Monday afternoon to send out a message of unity against hatred.
    — Heath Kalb, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Ungodlike thoughts and their outcomes are not negated just by trying not to think about evil, mistakes, disease, hatred, lack, sorrow, etc.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of hatred
Adjective
  • The league's anti-hate committee was formed last year to deal with hateful and abusive online comments directed at players and the league.
    — S.E. Jenkins, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • But arguably the script by Jones and director Brunner might have been a skoosh more impactful if the small-minded townsfolk, clearly coded as bigoted MAGA types, weren’t quite so hateful with only a few exceptions.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of hateful
Verb
  • In her post on X, Loomer accused Larkin of hating Jewish people.
    — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Keeley and Rebecca, on the other hand, are fuming at the IMPLIED declaration that Rebecca is some sort of woman hating monster.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of hating
Noun
  • After the fight, UFC President Dana White expressed his distaste for Garry's actions ahead of the fifth and final round.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Our friends were always surprised at our distaste for nuptials.
    — Asha Iyer, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of distaste
Adjective
  • The Larson campaign became openly contemptuous of Bronin at the May convention.
    — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026
  • The man didn’t catch Serena’s contemptuous expression, however, too busy peeling bills from a money clip and pressing them into his date’s hand.
    — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
Definition of contemptuous
Adjective
  • Tribunals have been appointed, and Coriolanus’ scornful elitism strikes them as too heavy a price for his military protection.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • Atletico did not believe this was a serious attempt to sign the player, and reacted with more angry and scornful social media posts.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 23 June 2026
Definition of scornful

Browse Nearby Words

loathes
loathing
loathings
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Loathing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loathing. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on loathing

Nglish: Translation of loathing for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of divulge

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All