Word
loathe
Meanings
To hate or dislike someone or something intensely.
To strongly dislike doing something; to dread it and want to avoid it.
Definition
To loathe something or someone means to hate them very strongly.
To loathe means to feel a very strong dislike or hatred for someone or something. It is stronger than “dislike” and close to “detest.” People often use it for things they find morally wrong, disgusting, or deeply unpleasant. It is usually followed by a noun or -ing form.
Examples
- I loathe being lied to.
- She loathes the way he interrupts everyone.
- They loathe doing paperwork on weekends.
- He loathes the smell of cigarette smoke.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse the pronunciation and say it like “loaf” instead of ending with the voiced /ð/ sound.
More verbs
- analyze To examine something carefully in order to understand it or explain it.
- scrutinize To scrutinize something is to examine it very carefully and in detail.
- affect To affect something is to influence it or cause it to change.
- allude To allude means to mention or suggest something indirectly without saying it clearly.
- elude To elude someone or something is to avoid being caught, understood, or remembered.