loathing

[loh-thing]

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noun

strong dislike or disgust; intense aversion.

Nearby words

Origin of loathing

First recorded in 1300–50, loathing is from the Middle English word lathynge. See loathe, -ing¹

SYNONYMS FOR loathing

abhorrence; hatred.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR loathing ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsloath·ing·ly, adverbself-loath·ing, adjective, noun

Synonym study

See aversion.

loathe

[lohth]

verb (used with object), loathed, loath·ing.

to feel disgust or intense aversion for; abhor: I loathe people who spread malicious gossip.

Origin of loathe

before 900; Middle English loth(i)en, lath(i)en, Old English lāthian, derivative of lāth loath

SYNONYMS FOR loathe

detest, abominate, hate.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR loathe ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR loathe

like.

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Related formsloath·er, nounun·loathed, adjective

Can be confusedloath loathe loathsome

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for loathing

Why so many people are so eager to flaunt their musical bona fides by loathing Coldplay.
Why Is It Cool to Hate Coldplay? A First Listen of New Album ‘Ghost Stories’|Andrew Romano|March 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the air is a Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas vibe, a little campy, a little naughty and a lot raw.
A Tech Millionaire Bets on the Urban Revival of Downtown Las Vegas|Sarah Kunst|January 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Their loathing of Kennedy, of Washington liberals, of Martin Luther King Jr., makes for a perfect match.
The Man Oswald First Tried to Kill Before JFK|Bill Minutaglio, Steven L. Davis|October 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He should instead be loathing the people who are trying to bring the government to a halt and trying to bring him down.
Advice for Obama: Forget Bulworth. Try Rambo.|Michael Tomasky|May 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Perhaps Wiencek is so blinded by his loathing of Thomas Jefferson that he cannot see what is right in front of his eyes.
What Did Thomas Jefferson Really Think About Slavery?|Jan Ellen Lewis|October 17, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Starcad's loathing for a smith recalls the mockery with which the Homeric gods treat Hephaistos.
The Danish History, Books I-IX|Saxo Grammaticus ("Saxo the Learned")
On this she looked now with a curious mixture of loathing and of fear.
The Laughing Cavalier|Baroness Orczy
Regardless of Lennon's look of loathing, Carmena lighted a candle and led the way direct to the mummy room.
Bloom of Cactus|Robert Ames Bennet
Perhaps his loathing of his present position increased this bitterness to a kind of madness.
The Hour of the Dragon|Robert E. Howard
And with that she withdrew her hair from the pasha's face and looked at him with loathing.
The Lion of Janina|Mr Jkai

British Dictionary definitions for loathing

loathing

noun

abhorrence; disgust

Derived Formsloathingly, adverb

loathe

verb

(tr) to feel strong hatred or disgust for

Derived Formsloather, noun

Word Origin for loathe

Old English lāthiān, from loath

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for loathing

loathing

"abhorrence," mid-14c., verbal noun from loathe.

loathe

Old English laðian "to hate, to be disgusted with," from lað "hostile" (see loath). Cognate with Old Saxon lethon, Old Norse leiða. Related: Loathed; loathing.

loathing

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of loathing

Synonym study

loathe

verb (used with object), loathed, loath·ing.

Origin of loathe

Examples from the Web for loathing

loathing

noun

loathe

verb

Word Origin for loathe

loathing

loathe