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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 do record loathe (along with loth) as a variant spelling for the adjective, but at the same time indicate that the loath spelling is the most common one. The adjective and the verb both 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
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 28 May 2025
Visiting her mother in 1982 with the intention of writing a family memoir of sorts, Niki struggles to square her westernized upbringing with a Japanese history and heritage that her mother is loath to talk about.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 May 2025
Air strikes were not enough to defeat the Yemenis, but the Saudi Arabians and the Emiratis were loath to have their armies engage in ground combat.
—Nicolas Niarchos, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
Some Republicans who’ve been loath to disagree publicly with Trump in recent months seem to share those concerns.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for loath
Cite this Entry
“Loath.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loath. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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