loathsome

adjective

loath·​some ˈlōth-səm  ˈlōt͟h- 

: giving rise to loathing : disgusting

a loathsome disease

Smoking is a loathsome habit.

loathsomely adverb

loathsomeness noun

Synonyms

• abhorrent
• abominable
• appalling
• awful
• disgusting
• distasteful
• dreadful
• evil
• foul
• fulsome
• gross
• hideous
• horrendous
• horrible
• horrid
• nasty
• nauseating
• nauseous
• noisome
• noxious
• obnoxious
• obscene
• odious
• offensive
• rancid
• repellent
• repellant
• repugnant
• repulsive
• revolting
• scandalous
• shocking
• sickening
• ugly

Examples of loathsome in a Sentence

we traced the foul smell to a pile of loathsome garbage by the back wall

Recent Examples on the Web

More than a quarter of a century later, Foster will step onto that same field Saturday night needing to prove himself anew against another team wearing the loathsome cardinal and gold. —Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2024

Denzel Washington was gruesomely low down in the dirt as a cop willing to wield his privilege against vulnerable Black and brown communities in 2001’s admittedly loathsome Training Day. —Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2024

Get this: This loathsome species is getting bigger and nastier thanks to climate change. —Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2024

But these loathsome pests represent an almost unimaginably small fraction of the planet’s insect diversity. —Benji Jones, Vox, 18 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English lothsum, from loth evil, from Old English lāth, from lāth, adjective

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

loathsome

adjective

loath·​some ˈlōth-səm  ˈlōt͟h- 

: very unpleasant : offensive

loathsomely adverb

loathsomeness noun