# loathe

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈləʊð/ · frequency rank #25,122

## Definitions
1. To detest, hate, or revile (someone or something).
2. To induce or inspire disgust (in a person)

## Etymology
From Middle English lothe, from Old English lāþian, from Proto-West Germanic *laiþēn, from Proto-Germanic *laiþāną. Cognate with Old Norse leiðask ( > Danish ledes, Icelandic leiðast, all reflexive), German Leid.

## Easily confused with
- **lotte** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loathe-vs-lotte)
- **locate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loathe-vs-locate)
- **Lottie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loathe-vs-lottie)
- **loathed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loathe-vs-loathed)
- **late** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/late-vs-loathe)
- **latte** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/latte-vs-loathe)
- **lathe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lathe-vs-loathe)
- **loath** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/loath-vs-loathe)
- **lather** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lather-vs-loathe)
- **leather** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/leather-vs-loathe)

## Common misspellings (8)
`laothe`, `lloathe`, `loahte`, `loateh`, `loathhe`, `loatthe`, `lotahe`, `olathe`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/loathe