definitions

loathing

[ loh-thing ]
/ ˈloʊ ðɪŋ /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR loathing ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

strong dislike or disgust; intense aversion.

RELATED CONTENT

Loath vs. LoatheIt can be easy to mix up loath and loathe because of their extremely similar spellings, but here’s the difference.
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

enmity, revulsion, disgust, dislike, hatred, contempt, repugnance, detestation

Nearby words

loanshift, loanword, loath, loathe, loathful, loathing, loathingly, loathly, loathsome, loathsomely, loaves

Origin of loathing

First recorded in 1300–50, loathing is from the Middle English word lathynge. See loathe, -ing1
Related formsloath·ing·ly, adverbself-loath·ing, adjective, noun

Synonym study

See aversion.

Definition for loathing (2 of 2)

loathe

[ lohth ]
/ loʊð /

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
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

British Dictionary definitions for loathing (1 of 2)

loathing

/ (ˈləʊðɪŋ) /

noun

abhorrence; disgust
Derived Formsloathingly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for loathing (2 of 2)

loathe

/ (ləʊð) /

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