loath and loathe - the difference

by Craig Shrives
The Quick Answer
To loathe means to hate.
Loath means unwilling.
Got it? Take a quick test.

Writers occasionally confuse loath and loathe. Their meanings are related as they both relate to not liking something.

Loathe

Loathe is a verb meaning to hate. In fact, many consider it even stronger than to hate.  It can also be translated as to hate intensely.

Examples:
  • She will eat just about anything, but she loathes celery.
  • I loved the Army as an institution and loathed every single thing it required me to do.

Loath

Loath is an adjective meaning unwilling.

Examples:
  • She is loath to join because her friends play for a rival team.
  • Magazines and newspapers are loath to discuss these types of deals publicly.
  • At daybreak, when loathe to rise, have this thought in thy mind: I am rising for a man's work.
    • (should be loath)
Interactive Exercise
Here are three randomly selected questions from a larger exercise, which can be edited, printed to create an exercise worksheet, or sent via email to friends or students.

Help Us To Improve Grammar Monster

  • Do you disagree with something on this page?
  • Did you spot a typo?
Please tell us using this form.

See Also

adverse or averse? affect or effect? appraise or apprise? avenge or revenge? bare or bear? complement or compliment? dependant or dependent? discreet or discrete? disinterested or uninterested? e.g. or i.e.? envy or jealousy? imply or infer? its or it's? material or materiel? poisonous or venomous? practice or practise? principal or principle? tenant or tenet? who's or whose?
What are adjectives? What are verbs? List of easily confused words