What's the Difference Between 'Loath' and 'Loathe'?
In this blog post we look at when to use loath and when to use loathe.
'Loath' or 'Loathe'?
The words "loathe" and "loath" may look similar, but they have distinct meanings and uses.
"Loathe" is a verb that means to dislike or hate something or someone very strongly.
It is often used to express a strong negative emotion or aversion towards something or someone.
For example, "I loathe broccoli," or "She loathes being told what to do."
"Loath" is an adjective that means unwilling or reluctant to do something.
It is often used to describe someone who is hesitant or unwilling to take an action or make a decision.
For example, "He is loath to speak in public," or "I am loath to leave my comfortable job."
The Merriam Webster dictionary lists the word “loathe” as a rare variant spelling for the word “loath”.
However this spelling variant is not listed in any other of the main online dictionaries and so you are probably better off using “loathe” only as a verb, meaning to strongly dislike.
In summary, "loathe" is a verb that means to dislike or hate something or someone very strongly, while "loath" is an adjective that means unwilling or reluctant to do something.
Whilst “loathe” can also be used as a spelling for “loath”, it’s advisable to separate the two spellings and their meanings.
Here are some example sentences to illustrate the difference between the words “loath” and “loathe”:
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"I loathe broccoli." (The speaker strongly dislikes broccoli)
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"She loathes being told what to do." (The speaker strongly dislikes or hates with anger when someone tells her what to do)
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"He is loath to speak in public." (The speaker is unwilling or hesitant to speak in public)
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"I am loath to leave my comfortable job." (The speaker is unwilling or hesitant to leave his comfortable job)
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"I loathe the thought of moving to a new city." (The speaker strongly dislikes the idea of moving to a new city)
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"He is loath to make a decision without consulting his advisor." (The speaker is unwilling or hesitant to make a decision without consulting his advisor)
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"She loathes the taste of coffee." (The speaker strongly dislikes the taste of coffee)
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"I am loath to take on more responsibilities at work." (The speaker is unwilling or hesitant to take on more responsibilities at work)
