Word
loathe
US/ˈɫoʊð/
UK/lˈəʊð/
Definition
v. to hate someone or something very much. You use this when you feel a strong sense of disgust or dislike.
v. to feel intense dislike or disgust for someone or something. Often implies a deep-seated or visceral aversion.
Examples
“I loathe the taste of raw onions.”
“They loathe each other so much that they cannot even stay in the same room for five minutes.”
“While some critics admired the director's bold visual style, others seemed to loathe the film for its perceived lack of emotional depth and excessive violence.”
Examples
simple
“I loathe the taste of raw onions.”
contextual
“They loathe each other so much that they cannot even stay in the same room for five minutes.”
complex
“While some critics admired the director's bold visual style, others seemed to loathe the film for its perceived lack of emotional depth and excessive violence.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object. It is often followed by a gerund (e.g., 'loathe doing something').
Pitfall
I loathe to do housework
I loathe doing housework
Loathe is typically followed by a gerund (-ing form) rather than an infinitive to express a general dislike.
Real-World Examples
“This included posting a tweet featuring the slogan "Get Brexit Done" in Comic Sans, a font loathed by graphic designers.” “Adored by some and loathed by others, the 34-year-old is one of the Greens’ highest profile members.” “I tried it for a while and although Newsnight was the perfect cure for insomnia, I loathed waking up at dawn with the screen blaring at me.” “After she asks if he understands why this makes people loathe him, it becomes a playground spat.” Etymology
From Middle English lothe, from Old English lāþian, from Proto-West Germanic laiþēn, from Proto-Germanic laiþāną. Cognate with Old Norse leiðask ( > Danish ledes, Icelandic leiðast, all reflexive), German Leid.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/loathe