Words / C1

LOHTH/ləʊð/

To loathe is to feel strong dislike or disgust: loathe hypocrisy, loathe the workaround. Hate is everyday; detest is a close cousin; loath (without e, /ləʊθ/) means unwilling (loath to agree) — the classic spelling trap. Do not loathe a person in the minutes; loathe the practice and name the fact.

Meaning

To feel strong dislike or disgust for someone or something.

Examples

• “She loathed the shared-password workaround and refused to sign.”
• “Hate is everyday. Loath (adj.) = unwilling. Loathing is the noun. Dislike is milder. A person you must still treat fairly can do a practice you loathe.”

Good to know

Hate strongly. Everyday: hate. Spelling trap: loath (unwilling, no e). Noun: loathing. Hate the practice; still be fair to the person.

Near in meaning

hate

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