What Is the Difference Between Loath and Loathe?
Loath and loathe are two words that are very commonly confused because they look almost identical. However, one is an adjective and the other is a verb. Understanding the difference between loath and loathe will help you use them correctly in both speaking and writing.
What Does Loath Mean?
Loath is an adjective that means reluctant or unwilling to do something. When you are loath to do something, you are very unwilling or reluctant to do it. Loath is always used as an adjective and is usually followed by an infinitive verb.
Examples of Loath
1- She was loath to admit that she had made a mistake.
2- He was loath to leave his comfortable job for something uncertain.
3- The children were loath to go to bed on Christmas Eve.
4- She was loath to share her personal details with strangers.
5- He was loath to ask for help because he was very independent.
6- The manager was loath to change the existing policy.
7- She was loath to disagree with her senior colleagues.
Structure of Loath
Loath is always used in this structure:
Subject + be + loath + to + infinitive verb
Examples:
1- She is loath to speak in public.
2- He was loath to accept the offer.
3- They are loath to make changes.
What Does Loathe Mean?
Loathe is a verb that means to feel intense dislike or disgust towards something or someone. When you loathe something, you hate it strongly. Loathe is always used as a verb and is one of the strongest words for expressing dislike in English.
Examples of Loathe
1- She loathes spiders and cannot be in the same room as one.
2- He loathes dishonesty and cannot tolerate lies.
3- I loathe getting up early in the morning.
4- She loathed the smell of cigarette smoke.
5- He loathes being interrupted when he is working.
6- She loathed the way he spoke to people.
7- They loathe the cold weather and prefer to stay indoors.
Common Phrases with Loathe
1- Absolutely loathe — to hate something intensely
2- Utterly loathe — to have a complete and total dislike
3- Loathe the idea — to hate the thought of something
Key Differences Between Loath and Loathe
Loath
Type: adjective
Meaning: reluctant or unwilling
Structure: be + loath + to + verb
Example: She was loath to leave.
Loathe
Type: verb
Meaning: to hate intensely
Structure: subject + loathe + object
Example: She loathes spiders.
Common Mistakes
Using Loath as a Verb
Incorrect: I loath spiders.
Correct: I loathe spiders.
Using Loathe as an Adjective
Incorrect: She was loathe to admit it.
Correct: She was loath to admit it.
Memory Tips
LOATH = adjective (reluctant) — no E at the end
LOATHE = verb (to hate) — has an E at the end
Think of it this way:
Loath = I am loath (unwilling) — it describes how you feel
Loathe = I loathe (hate) — it describes what you do
Conclusion
1- Loath is an adjective meaning reluctant or unwilling to do something.
2- Loathe is a verb meaning to feel intense dislike or hatred towards something.
3- Loath is always followed by to and an infinitive verb.
4- Loathe is always used as a verb and is followed by an object.
5- A simple trick: loath = no E (adjective), loathe = has an E (verb).