Did you know?
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
Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 12 July 2025
This isn't the deepest farm system, and the team is loath to touch its top two prospects, shortstop Leo de Vries and catcher Ethan Salas.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
The party has been loath to do more than tweak the California Environmental Quality Act, or approve one-off exemptions, despite pressure from the governor and national criticism of a law that reform advocates say has hamstrung California’s ability to build.
—Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
Many estates have been loath to relinquish ride rights.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 17 June 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 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy Citation
Share