“loath” vs. “loathe”

Use "loath" (no e) as the adjective meaning reluctant, almost always in "loath to [verb]" — and "loathe" (with e) as the verb meaning to hate.

The real distinction

Both words share a common ancestor and a family resemblance in meaning — reluctance and hatred are, after all, cousins — but they diverge sharply in intensity and grammar. "Loath" is a mild adjective describing hesitation or unwillingness, typically appearing in the set phrase "loath to [do something]," and it never takes a direct object. "Loathe" is a strong verb describing active disgust or hatred, and it always takes a direct object — you loathe a person, a food, a chore. The spelling difference is the silent final "e," which also shifts the vowel sound slightly (loath rhymes with "both"; loathe rhymes with "clothe"). A dependable test: if the word is followed by "to" and another verb, expressing reluctance, you want "loath"; if the word is followed directly by a noun or pronoun being hated, you want "loathe." Because "loath" is comparatively rare in casual speech next to its more common cousin, many writers default to "loathe" even when reluctance, not hatred, is intended. Some dictionaries, particularly British ones, list "loth" as an acceptable alternate spelling of the adjective "loath," adding yet another wrinkle, though American usage overwhelmingly favors "loath." Because "loathe" as a verb can also form the adjective "loathsome" (utterly disgusting or repulsive), writers sometimes reach for that stronger derived word when "loath" (merely reluctant) would actually fit the milder meaning they intend, which is a useful reminder that "loathe" and its family describe genuine hatred, not simple hesitation. Because "loath" is comparatively formal and slightly literary, it appears far more often in written prose than in spoken conversation, while "loathe" feels natural in both registers, which may be part of why writers occasionally reach for the more familiar "loathe" even in contexts that call for the milder "loath."

Examples with “loath”

• She was loath to leave her hometown after so many years.
• He seemed loath to admit his mistake.
• I am loath to interrupt such an important meeting.
• They were loath to change the family recipe.
• The manager was loath to fire a long-time employee.
• She felt loath to disturb the sleeping baby.
• The board was loath to approve such a risky venture.
• I'm loath to say anything that might upset her.
• The editor was loath to cut the writer's favorite passage.
• She was loath to leave the cozy cabin behind.
• He was loath to abandon the project after so much progress.
• She felt loath to correct her mentor in front of others.
• She was loath to trust a stranger with the secret.
• He remained loath to change his daily routine.

Examples with “loathe”

• He absolutely loathes cold, soggy cereal.
• She loathes being interrupted mid-sentence.
• The critic loathed the film's clumsy dialogue.
• They loathe waking up before sunrise.
• I loathe the sound of nails on a chalkboard.
• He loathed every minute of the long commute.
• She loathes waiting in long checkout lines.
• He loathed the smell of the chemical plant nearby.
• He loathes filling out repetitive paperwork.
• The critic loathed the movie's predictable twist.
• He loathes the taste of overly sweet desserts.
• They loathed the constant construction noise outside their window.
• She loathes dishonesty more than almost anything else.
• He loathed the idea of moving away from his hometown.

Memory trick

"Loathe" ends in a silent "e" like "hate" — both words end quietly but mean something fierce. "Loath," with no "e," is the milder, shorter word for mere reluctance.