Loath or loathe: which is correct?
Correct
loath (adjective: reluctant) / loathe (verb: to hate)
Avoid
loathe (for "reluctant": "loathe to admit")
Avoid
loath (as the verb: "I loath spiders")
Summary
Correct: loath (adjective: reluctant) / loathe (verb: to hate) — Avoid: loathe (for "reluctant": "loathe to admit") / loath (as the verb: "I loath spiders"). Loath = reluctant, unwilling (always followed by to); loathe = to feel intense dislike for.
- Part of speech
- adjective / verb
- Source
- Merriam-Webster
Why
Merriam-Webster: loath (no final e, rhymes with both) is the adjective meaning reluctant; loathe (final e, rhymes with clothe) is the verb meaning to detest — the same noun-or-adjective/verb split as breath/breathe.
Examples
- He was loath to admit his mistake.
- I loathe cold showers.
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