loathe

Loathe is a verb meaning to feel intense dislike or disgust for someone or something. It is used transitively, as in “I loathe cruelty” or “She loathes hypocrisy.” The word forms include loathes, loathed, and loathing. The noun loathing refers to the feeling itself, as in “a deep loathing for violence.”

Etymology and related forms: Loathe derives from Old English and Middle English roots and is closely related to the adjective loath in the sense of reluctant or unwilling. Over time, loathe has come to emphasize strong moral or visceral disgust, while loath (without the e) tends to mean reluctant rather than disgusted.

Usage notes: Loathe conveys a higher degree of aversion than merely dislike or detest and is considered formal or emphatic. It is not typically used for mild or casual dislike. A related expression, loath to do something (without the e), means reluctant or unwilling to do something, and is not the same as loathe. For example, “I am loath to complain,” contrasts with “I loathe complaining.”

Examples: “I loathe cruelty in any form.” “Many people loathe the idea of war.” “She was loath to abandon her plans,” where loath means reluctant rather than disgusted.

See also: loathing (noun), loath (adjective, meaning reluctant), detest, abhor.

In summary, loathe is a strong, formal verb indicating intense revulsion, distinct from the related but separate sense of loath, which means reluctant.