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loath

adjective
\ ˈlōth How to pronounce loath (audio) , ˈlōt͟h How to pronounce loath (audio) \
variants: or less commonly \ ˈlōth How to pronounce loth (audio) , ˈlōt͟h \ or loathe \ ˈlōt͟h How to pronounce loathe (audio) , ˈlōth \

Definition of loath

: unwilling to do something contrary to one's ways of thinking : reluctant She was loath to admit her mistakes.
Other Words from loath Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Loath vs. Loathe More Example Sentences Learn More about loath

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Other Words from loath

loathness noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for loath

Synonyms

cagey (also cagy), disinclined, dubious, hesitant, indisposed, reluctant, reticent

Antonyms

disposed, inclined

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Choose the Right Synonym for loath

disinclined, hesitant, reluctant, loath, averse mean lacking the will or desire to do something indicated. disinclined implies lack of taste for or inclination. disinclined to move again disinclined for reading hesitant implies a holding back especially through fear or uncertainty. hesitant about asking for a date reluctant implies a holding back through unwillingness. a reluctant witness loath implies hesitancy because of conflict with one's opinions, predilections, or liking. seems loath to trust anyone averse implies a holding back from or avoiding because of distaste or repugnance. averse to hard work not averse to an occasional drink

Loath vs. Loathe

Many usage commentators point out that the spelling of loath the adjective is distinct from loathe, the verb that means "to dislike greatly." Merriam-Webster dictionaries record loathe (along with loth) as a variant spelling for the adjective, at the same time indicating that the spelling with an e is not as common as the form without it. Both words hark back to Old English, and the e ending in each has come and gone over the centuries - but if you want to avoid the ire of those who like to keep the language tidy, stick with loath for the adjective and loathe for the verb.

Examples of loath in a Sentence

She was loath to admit her mistakes. I was loath to accept his claim of having climbed Mount Everest.

Recent Examples on the Web

 Cable companies, beset by cord-cutters, are loath to continue paying more money for content that fewer Americans are tuning into on a regular basis. — Keach Hagey, WSJ, "CBS Is Planning Offer for Sister Company Viacom," 18 June 2019 Solutions that maintain its successes exist, but the physics community is loath to accept anything that does not feel intuitive. — Leila Sloman, Scientific American, "Hubble Tension Headache: Clashing Measurements Make the Universe's Expansion a Lingering Mystery," 29 July 2019 With the mid-engine car, a true manual was more difficult to install and suppliers are loath to make them because sales volumes are low, said Tadge Juechter, Corvette chief engineer. — Staff And News Service Reports, The Mercury News, "Photos: General Motors unveils its new Corvette Stingray in Tustin," 20 July 2019 With the mid-engine car, a true manual was more difficult to install, and suppliers are loath to make them because volumes are low. — David Welchbloomberg, Los Angeles Times, "GM defies a shrinking sports car market with its new, sub-$60,000 Corvette," 19 July 2019 Without public trustees, professionals at Social Security and Medicare are loath to make changes in assumptions underlying the financial estimates. — Ricardo Alonso-zaldivar, The Seattle Times, "Help Wanted: Overseers for Social Security and Medicare," 1 Oct. 2018 But the far left is loath to do anything like that. — Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, "The Democrats’ Immigration Problem Is Bigger Than Donald Trump," 25 July 2019 But employers are loath to locate factories in regions where drug addiction is known, or thought, to be rampant. — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, "Real World Economics: Drug addictions sap economy but vary regionally," 21 July 2019 And perhaps counterintuitively, insurance companies are loath to offend physicians and hospitals in their all-important networks — even those accused of wrongdoing, many experts have said. — Marshall Allen, ProPublica, "Health Insurers Make It Easy for Scammers to Steal Millions. Who Pays? You.," 19 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'loath.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of loath

12th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for loath

Middle English loth loathsome, from Old English lāth; akin to Old High German leid loathsome, Old Irish lius loathing

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More Definitions for loath

loath

adjective
How to pronounce loath (audio) How to pronounce loath (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of loath

: not wanting or willing to do something

See the full definition for loath in the English Language Learners Dictionary

loath

adjective
variants: also loth \ ˈlōth , ˈlōt͟h \

Kids Definition of loath

: not willing He was loath to admit mistakes.

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More from Merriam-Webster on loath

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with loath

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for loath

Spanish Central: Translation of loath

Nglish: Translation of loath for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of loath for Arabic Speakers

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