loathsome
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of loathsome
First recorded in 1250–1300, loathsome is from the Middle English word lothsom. See loath, -some 1
Explanation
Loathsome things are things people hate — so much they make you want to throw up. Something loathsome is disgusting, distasteful, foul, revolting, and yucky. It's probably gross and awful, too. Some loathsome things are even repellent and nauseating. Other times, this word has a more general meaning. A corrupt politician is considered loathsome because he has no morals. A murderer is loathsome because of his crimes. Anything you think is horrible could be called loathsome.
Vocabulary lists containing loathsome
"Beowulf," Vocabulary from the epic poem
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Bud, Not Buddy
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A Thousand Splendid Suns
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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.
The most brilliant collector of Cubism of his generation, he emerges as wickedly funny and in most other ways loathsome.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 12, 2025
If anything, it’s a shame that “Girls” ended before the front-facing video era really took off, given how many people could stand to be made aware of how loathsome and inconsiderate their behavior has become.
From Salon ● Jul. 1, 2025
I mention that it’s amusing of him to say there’s a piece of himself in a character most people find pretty loathsome.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 21, 2025
Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, who ran against Trump in the latest Republican primary, prosecuted the case at the time and called it “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes” he had seen.
From BBC ● Nov. 30, 2024
“May we go now?” asked the dog, whose sensitive nose had picked up a loathsome, evil smell that grew stronger every second.
From "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
