Loath vs loathe
Loath is an adjective that means unwilling, as in loath to leave. Loathe, with an e, is a verb that means to hate something intensely.
Loathe ends in e, just like hate.
loath adjective
Reluctant or unwilling. It is followed by to and a verb, as in loath to admit.
- Many voters are loath to admit they changed their minds.
- She was loath to leave the party so early.
loathe verb
To hate someone or something intensely, with a feeling of disgust.
- I loathe long meetings that could have been a single email.
- He loathes the smell of cooked cabbage.
Watch out
- Loath usually ends with the th sound in thin, and loathe with the th sound in then. But many speakers say loath with the th in then too, so you cannot always hear the difference.
- Loathed and loathing come from the verb loathe. Someone loathed is hated, not unwilling.He spoke of the loathed tax with open contempt.
Test yourself
My little brother says he will always blank broccoli.
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loathe. This is a verb meaning to hate something intensely.
The manager was blank to fire anyone during the holidays.
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loath. This means unwilling, and it comes before to and a verb.
Most cats blank being given a bath.
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loathe. The cats hate baths, so the verb loathe is needed.
Collectors are often blank to sell their favorite pieces.
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loath. They are unwilling to sell, so use the adjective loath.