loath
Americanadjective
adjective
-
(usually foll by to) reluctant or unwilling
-
willing
Usage
What’s the difference between loath and loathe? Loath is an adjective that means unwilling, reluctant, or disinclined, as in They are loath to get involved in such a messy situation. Loathe is a verb that means to hate or feel extreme disgust toward, as in I loathe the way he treats his dog or My kids loathe broccoli. Loathe always rhymes with the verb clothe. Loath can be pronounced this way, but it can also rhyme with both. Loath is only ever used as an adjective, and loathe is only ever used as a verb. Both words are generally negative, but loathe is much more negative. Loathe is also the more common of the two words. The word loathsome is an adjective form of the verb loathe that means causing feelings of loathing—disgusting or revolting. You would describe someone you loathe as loathsome. Loath is usually followed by the word to and a verb, as in I’m loath to drive that far. To remember that the verb loathe ends with an e, remember that it means the same thing as hate, which also ends with an e. Here’s an example of loath and loathe used correctly in a sentence. Example: I’m loath to think about how much he must loathe me. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between loath and loathe.
Related Words
See reluctant.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of loath
First recorded before 900; Middle English loth, lath, Old English lāth “hostile, hateful”; cognate with Dutch leed, German leid “sorry,” Old Norse leithr “hateful”
Explanation
If you are loath to do something, you really don't want to do it. If you are reluctant to go swimming, people will say you are loath to swim — but if they are really mean, they might throw you in the pool anyway. The adjective loath is used to describe being extremely opposed to something. The term is generally followed by to — "The teacher was loath to let the students turn in papers late, but he made an exception for the girl who had missed class due to illness."
Vocabulary lists containing loath
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Julius Caesar
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"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act I
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Loath to go back to a nine-to-five, I answered a casting ad for a Santa Claus to work parties and private events.
From Salon • Dec. 24, 2019
Loath as I am to dismiss anyone’s good old days, the story doesn’t translate well to a fancy restaurant.
From Washington Post • Oct. 30, 2018
Loath as Max may be to admit it, his books were not born in a vacuum, the product of one brave and solitary brain.
From Slate • May 17, 2018
Loath to repeat himself in song, Cohen pushed his pen in new directions until the very end.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 11, 2016
Loath to take that risk, they spoke only to each other about their concerns, and the secret brought them closer.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
