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
as in hateful
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
Tharin Pillay, Time, 28 Dec. 2025
That unholy alliance, which is an unlikely alliance, is anchored first and foremost to the loathing of Western civilization.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 19 Nov. 2025
George Packer, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loathing
Noun
Gemini spirals Google’s Gemini model series has developed a reputation online for occasionally devolving into self-loathing.
—Tharin Pillay, Time, 28 Dec. 2025
That unholy alliance, which is an unlikely alliance, is anchored first and foremost to the loathing of Western civilization.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 19 Nov. 2025
Verb
The American experiment in egalitarian, multiethnic democracy fills these intellectuals with anxiety, if not loathing.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loathing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loathing
Noun
-
Tre’davious White, who was called for the second one that moved the ball to Buffalo’s 8, threw his helmet down in disgust while arguing and got an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty.—
Rob Maaddi,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Jan. 2026
-
While baseball fans everywhere else throw up their hands in disgust and flock to the NFL.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Someone that was so divisive and creating content that was purely based on hatred.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Jan. 2026
-
In the same collections of letters and other writing that record his intense hatred, there are also plenty of tender comments about his homeland.—
Amir Ahmadi Arian,
The Dial,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
His new one tells the story of a young woman sent from the afterlife to guide a hateful oil baron through the process of dying — and what comes next.—
Michael Schaub,
Oc Register,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Increasingly common, but not commonplace Greller describes threats and hateful rhetoric as a big problem that's becoming more frequent, but not commonplace.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Misogyny, Manne argues, is often less about hating women outright than about policing and punishing their behavior.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Despite hating running more than anything, Poppy bolts after him.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Wylde, who has introduced Mamdani to many business leaders in the city since his election, said there’s widespread distaste for his tax-the-rich agenda in local business communities.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
That’s why, even when a team with six losses sits a ways away from panic, Caruso finds distaste when licking his wounds.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Thompson, meanwhile, savors every contemptuous glare and hateful retort Anna regularly supplies.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
8 Jan. 2026
-
All of these flaws are conveniently overlooked by the purveyors of all of these instruments and done so in a way that is contemptuous of those who would contest it or even quibble with it.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
30 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Despite that criticism, Trump doubled down on his scornful comments about Reiner at a press conference on Monday.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Dec. 2025
-
Loyal to the Emperor, scornful of the aristocracy, and sympathetic to the peasants’ desire for liberation, if not their bloodlust, he is torn between medieval chivalry and modern self-preservation.—
Merve Emre,
New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Loathing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loathing. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
