loathe
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /lˈəʊð/
US
- /ˈloʊð/
Description
- hate deeply
- despise
- detest
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.
Pattern
loathe the idea of doing X
strongly dislike even thinking about doing it
- 5
Self-disgust
After the argument, she loathed herself for saying such cruel things.
Pattern
loathe 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.
Grammar
be loathed by + person/group
be strongly disliked by that person or group
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- loatheverb
Forms
- loathing-ing formverb
- loathedpast tenseverb
- loathesverb