WordGarden.ioloathe
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /lˈəʊð/
US
- /ˈloʊð/
Meanings
Verb
to feel intense dislike or disgust toward someone or something
to be very unwilling to do something
Beyond the definition
To loathe something is not just to dislike it. It means feeling very strong hatred or disgust. In a story, a villain might loathe the hero because of jealousy or anger. In daily life, someone might loathe doing laundry, and in a novel, a character might loathe injustice. Unlike "dislike," which can be mild, this word shows a much stronger feeling. A chef might loathe wasting good ingredients, while a traveler might loathe long airport security lines.
The word "loathe" describes a very strong feeling of hatred and disgust. It is much stronger than simply disliking something. When you loathe something, you do not just avoid it or find it annoying - you feel a deep negative reaction to it.
You might loathe a habit that someone has, such as interrupting others or chewing loudly. You could also loathe a certain food, a smell, or an activity. The word is often used when the feeling is personal and intense, but it can also be used for moral reasons. A character in a story might loathe cruelty, lies, or betrayal.
Although "hate" is common in everyday speech, "loathe" often sounds stronger and more vivid. You would not usually use it for a small annoyance. But if something truly fills you with disgust, this word fits well. It helps paint a clearer picture of a reaction that feels deep, emotional, and hard to hide.
Think of Gollum from The Lord of the Rings - he does not simply dislike the light of the sun; he loathes it. That example shows the force of the word well. When something brings out a feeling of deep disgust or hatred, "loathe" is the right word to use.
Examples
- 1
Work meetings
I loathe long meetings that could have been emails.
- 2
Punctuality
She loathes being late, so she always leaves early.
- 3
Sensory reaction
He absolutely loathes the smell of cigarette smoke.
- 4
Unwanted request
They loathed the idea of asking their parents for money.
- Patternloathe the idea of doing X
strongly dislike even thinking about doing it
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Self-disgust
After the argument, she loathed herself for saying such cruel things.
- Patternloathe yourself for + action
feel strong shame or disgust about what you did
- 6
Workplace reaction
The new policy was loathed by many of the staff.
- Grammarbe loathed by + person/group
be strongly disliked by that person or group
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- loatheverb
Forms
- loathing-ing formverb
- loathedpast tenseverb
- loathesverb