Loath vs. Loathe
“Loath” is a formal adjective meaning unwilling or reluctant, usually in the pattern “be loath to …”. “Loathe” is a transitive verb meaning to hate or strongly dislike. Cambridge also gives a stable pronunciation contrast in mainstream UK/US forms: loath ends in /θ/, while loathe ends in /ð/.
Use “loath” for unwilling/reluctant (“I’m loath to leave”). Use “loathe” as the verb meaning hate (“I loathe waiting”).
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / grammar | Use | Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Reluctant or unwilling | loath | be loath to + verb |
| Hate or strongly dislike | loathe | loathe + noun / gerund / object |
Quick tests
Part-of-speech test
Do you mean “reluctant,” or do you need the verb meaning “hate strongly”?
If yes: Use the adjective “loath,” commonly in “be loath to …”.
If no: Use the verb “loathe” for strong dislike.
Caveat: The words also differ in standard pronunciation, but grammar and meaning are the safest editing test.
Examples
I am loath to cancel the event.
“Loath” is the adjective meaning reluctant.
I loathe wasting food.
“Loathe” is the verb meaning strongly dislike.
She is loathe to leave.
Better: She is loath to leave.
The adjective in this pattern is “loath.”
I am loath to cancel the trip.
Adjective of reluctance versus verb of strong dislike.
I loathe unnecessary delays.
Adjective of reluctance versus verb of strong dislike.
Further guidance
Inflection Boundary
The verb loathe inflects: loathed, loathing. Loath is not the base form of that verb.
Pronunciation Boundary
Cambridge gives loath /ləʊθ, loʊθ/ and loathe /ləʊð, loʊð/, a stable final-consonant voicing contrast in the reviewed UK/US pronunciations.
Role Boundary
Loath is an adjective; loathe is a transitive verb.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- LOATH — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Meaning, grammar role and pronunciation of loath
- LOATHE — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Meaning, grammar role and pronunciation of loathe
- LOATHED — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Past tense/participle morphology of loathe