What does loathe mean?
Loathe is a strong English verb meaning to dislike or detest something intensely, often with a sense of disgust, anger, or moral revulsion. It is more forceful than dislike and can describe both personal animosity and a profound rejection of an idea, practice, or experience. For example, a person may loathe a particular food, loathe being lied to, or loathe a political ideology. The word is common in formal writing and literary speech, although its emphasis also makes it suitable for emotionally direct personal statements. It is used in British and American English and has no important regional distinction. The related adjective loath means reluctant or unwilling, while loathsome means extremely unpleasant or detestable. Understanding this distinction helps clarify the force of loathe: it describes intense aversion rather than mere preference.
verbTo dislike something or someone intensely and with strong aversion. It can also mean to find something morally or physically repulsive.
- To dislike someone or something intensely.
- To regard something with strong disgust or moral revulsion.
"She loathed the idea of speaking in front of a large audience."
"Many readers loathed the novel's predictable ending."
"The organization was accused of loathing the traditions of the community it served."
Loothe carries the force of a visceral recoil: it does not merely mean “not like,” but actively expresses intense dislike or disgust.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does loathe come from?
The word comes from Old English lāþan, meaning to hate or dislike intensely, and developed into the modern English form through Middle English. It belongs to a Germanic root associated with hatred or loathing, reflected in related forms such as loath and loathsome. Modern usage preserves the original strong emotional force, though the word is now especially common in formal and literary contexts.
Related word forms
How loathe is actually used
Loathe is stronger and more emphatic than dislike. It is especially common in literary, formal, and emotionally charged contexts, and is frequently followed by a noun, a gerund, or the infinitive with 'to'.
Easily confused with loathe
To loathe something is to dislike it intensely, whereas to be loath to do something means to be reluctant or unwilling to do it.