Loath

/ləʊθ/

adjective

Reluctant to do something; not willing.

She was loath to admit her mistakes.

Often appears as...

loath to admit
loath to leave

adjective

Reluctant to do something; not willing.

She was loath to admit her mistakes.

Often appears as...

loath to admit
loath to leave

Definition 1 of 1

Pro Tip 1/3

Mild Dislike

Indicates a soft refusal or mild negative feeling towards something; less strong than 'hate'.

I'm loath to eat brussels sprouts; they're just not my favorite.

Pro Tip 2/3

Personal Inclination

Shows someone's personal feelings, often suggesting a struggle between desire and duty.

He was loath to leave the party early, but he had work the next day.

Pro Tip 3/3

Not Absolute

Doesn't mean a complete refusal, but rather an unwillingness that could be overcome.

She was loath to lend her car, but did it anyway to help her friend.

Pro Tip 1/3

Mild Dislike

Indicates a soft refusal or mild negative feeling towards something; less strong than 'hate'.

I'm loath to eat brussels sprouts; they're just not my favorite.

Pro Tip 2/3

Personal Inclination

Shows someone's personal feelings, often suggesting a struggle between desire and duty.

He was loath to leave the party early, but he had work the next day.

Pro Tip 3/3

Not Absolute

Doesn't mean a complete refusal, but rather an unwillingness that could be overcome.

She was loath to lend her car, but did it anyway to help her friend.

Pro Tip 1/3

Mild Dislike

Indicates a soft refusal or mild negative feeling towards something; less strong than 'hate'.

I'm loath to eat brussels sprouts; they're just not my favorite.

Pro Tip 2/3

Personal Inclination

Shows someone's personal feelings, often suggesting a struggle between desire and duty.

He was loath to leave the party early, but he had work the next day.

Pro Tip 3/3

Not Absolute

Doesn't mean a complete refusal, but rather an unwillingness that could be overcome.

She was loath to lend her car, but did it anyway to help her friend.

Compare with

antipatheticaversedisinclinedhesitanceopposereluctantresistantunwilling

Look up Compare with

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Quote examples

Martha Beck

American Author

Our ideas about love and attractiveness are so primal, our need for belonging so intense, that most of us are loath to abandon our favorite beliefs on these issues. If you've ever let yourself feel lovable and lovely, only to be deeply hurt, you may see accepting your own body as a setup for severe emotional wounding.

Quote examples

Alexander Henry

American Businessman

It may be that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,' but I should be loath to see a rose on a maiden's breast substituted by a flower, however beautiful and fragrant it might be, that is went by the name of the skunk lily.

Quote examples

James Gunn

American Director

I am loath to suggest 'Visitor Q' to anyone, because you've got to have a warped brain to even understand or appreciate it a little bit. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I have been blessed with a warped brain, and I really dug it.

Quote examples

Johnny Vegas

British Comedian

I'm loath to use my personal life to promote what I do, but at the same time, I don't like a journalist going away with no more than you could get off Wikipedia, where most of it's invented anyway.

Quote examples

Jim Walsh

Irish Politician

Never, since the fall of communism, has it been so abundantly clear that an ethos exists, which is loath to accept the freedoms and prosperity we hold sacred in this nation.

Quote examples

Florence King

American Writer

We are incapable of leaving anything to the imagination and loath to leave anything out. Maniacal thoroughness has become our national verbal ideal.

Quote examples

Francois de La Rochefoucauld

French Writer

It is from a weakness and smallness of mind that men are opinionated; and we are very loath to believe what we are not able to comprehend.

Portrait of Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Quote examples

Paul Scholes

English Athlete

I am always loath to assign goalkeepers too much importance, but you have to make an exception for the greats.

Quote examples

Samuel Johnson

English Writer

I would be loath to speak ill of any person who I do not know deserves it, but I am afraid he is an attorney.

Quote examples

Gareth Southgate

English Athlete

You're always loath to take a player off of his ability.

Quote examples

Martha Beck

American Author

Our ideas about love and attractiveness are so primal, our need for belonging so intense, that most of us are loath to abandon our favorite beliefs on these issues. If you've ever let yourself feel lovable and lovely, only to be deeply hurt, you may see accepting your own body as a setup for severe emotional wounding.

Quote examples

Alexander Henry

American Businessman

It may be that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,' but I should be loath to see a rose on a maiden's breast substituted by a flower, however beautiful and fragrant it might be, that is went by the name of the skunk lily.

Quote examples

James Gunn

American Director

I am loath to suggest 'Visitor Q' to anyone, because you've got to have a warped brain to even understand or appreciate it a little bit. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I have been blessed with a warped brain, and I really dug it.

Quote examples

Johnny Vegas

British Comedian

I'm loath to use my personal life to promote what I do, but at the same time, I don't like a journalist going away with no more than you could get off Wikipedia, where most of it's invented anyway.

Quote examples

Jim Walsh

Irish Politician

Never, since the fall of communism, has it been so abundantly clear that an ethos exists, which is loath to accept the freedoms and prosperity we hold sacred in this nation.

Quote examples

Florence King

American Writer

We are incapable of leaving anything to the imagination and loath to leave anything out. Maniacal thoroughness has become our national verbal ideal.

Quote examples

Francois de La Rochefoucauld

French Writer

It is from a weakness and smallness of mind that men are opinionated; and we are very loath to believe what we are not able to comprehend.

Quote examples

Paul Scholes

English Athlete

I am always loath to assign goalkeepers too much importance, but you have to make an exception for the greats.

Quote examples

Samuel Johnson

English Writer

I would be loath to speak ill of any person who I do not know deserves it, but I am afraid he is an attorney.

Quote examples

Gareth Southgate

English Athlete

You're always loath to take a player off of his ability.

Example 1 of 10

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