"Loath" (no E) = reluctant, unwilling; "loathe" (with E) = to detest intensely, to feel strong disgust toward.
Adjective: very reluctant or unwilling to do something. "I am loath to admit it" = I am very unwilling to admit it. Always followed by an infinitive with "to": "loath to + verb". Never used alone without a complement.
She was loath to leave the warm house on such a cold morning.
He was loath to admit that the project had failed, despite all the evidence.
I am loath to make any promises before I have reviewed the full contract.
Transitive verb: to feel intense dislike or disgust toward something or someone. Stronger than "dislike" and more specific than "hate". "I loathe dishonesty" = I find dishonesty intensely repulsive. Conjugates normally: loathe, loathes, loathed, loathing.
She absolutely loathes the smell of fish — she cannot even walk past a seafood restaurant.
He loathed the commute so much that he eventually quit and found a remote job.
I loathe having to repeat myself in meetings — good documentation would prevent it entirely.
Common mistake
The typical error: writing "loathe" (verb) when you want the adjective "loath". "I am loathe to do it" is incorrect; the correct form is "I am loath to do it." The version WITH E is the VERB; without E is the ADJECTIVE. Test: if it follows "I am" + "to + infinitive", it is the adjective LOATH (no E). If it takes a direct object ("I loathe X"), it is the verb LOATHE (with E).
Trick to remember it
The E distinguishes verb from adjective. LOATHE (with E) = verb ("I loathe broccoli" — expressing an action). LOATH (no E) = adjective ("I am loath to eat it" — describing a state of reluctance). Memory hook: LOATHE (with E) takes an object and Expresses intensity. LOATH (no E) = adjective state, describing unwillingness without a direct object.
Quick rule
Loath (no E) = adjective, reluctant (I am loath to + verb). Loathe (with E) = verb, to detest intensely (I loathe + noun).
Did you know?
"Loathing" (the noun derived from "loathe") became world-famous through Hunter S. Thompson's book "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" (1972). The "loathing" in the title is not simple dislike: it is a deep, existential aversion. The intensity of "loathe" and its derivatives makes it a favorite among writers seeking to evoke strong disgust or revulsion, distinct from the more generic "hate".
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The committee was _____ to approve the budget without seeing the full financial report first.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
She absolutely _____ the sound of people chewing — she cannot eat in the same room as anyone else.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Loath (no E) = adjective, reluctant (I am loath to + verb). Loathe (with E) = verb, to detest intensely (I loathe + noun).
The typical error: writing "loathe" (verb) when you want the adjective "loath". "I am loathe to do it" is incorrect; the correct form is "I am loath to do it." The version WITH E is the VERB; without E is the ADJECTIVE. Test: if it follows "I am" + "to + infinitive", it is the adjective LOATH (no E). If it takes a direct object ("I loathe X"), it is the verb LOATHE (with E).
The E distinguishes verb from adjective. LOATHE (with E) = verb ("I loathe broccoli" — expressing an action). LOATH (no E) = adjective ("I am loath to eat it" — describing a state of reluctance). Memory hook: LOATHE (with E) takes an object and Expresses intensity. LOATH (no E) = adjective state, describing unwillingness without a direct object.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy