1
as in disgust
a dislike so strong as to cause stomach upset or queasiness
the sight of his mortal enemy getting that undeserved promotion filled him with loathing
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hatred
a very strong dislike
I have an uncompromising loathing for anyone who would deliberately harm an animal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hateful
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in hating
to dislike strongly
I simply loathe tapioca pudding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of loathing
Graham Scott, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
On the group’s fourth album in six years, there are songs about doomscrolling, drinking, drugs, and self-loathing—alongside themes of breakups, addiction, and the yearning for a different future.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 6 Apr. 2026
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
The American experiment in egalitarian, multiethnic democracy fills these intellectuals with anxiety, if not loathing.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loathing
Noun
Every game is played away from home, the atmosphere always feels hostile and the wild-west of social media means the anger and loathing persist long after a match has ended.
—Graham Scott, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
On the group’s fourth album in six years, there are songs about doomscrolling, drinking, drugs, and self-loathing—alongside themes of breakups, addiction, and the yearning for a different future.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
Lori will turn out to harbor some personal reasons for loathing Julian, but there are plenty of general reasons to resent him too.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
The American experiment in egalitarian, multiethnic democracy fills these intellectuals with anxiety, if not loathing.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loathing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loathing
Noun
-
Repulsion, disgust, and ambivalence can all find rootedness in horror.—
Horace D. Ballard,
Artforum,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Some also voiced their disgust during the protests in September.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In the centuries since colonists waged war against the crown, American’s attitudes toward the royals have shifted from hatred to adoration.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
But the War on Terror persisted and mutated into nightmares in Iraq and Afghanistan, and then Syria, which unleashed that darkness in the form of terrorist states and a refugee crisis that spread anti-Muslim and anti-migrant hatred to Europe, the United States, and beyond.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
An investigation is underway into hateful graffiti in a Long Island neighborhood.—
Jenna DeAngelis,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
His humor is far more hateful than clever at this point.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
My mom is notorious for being a sweets lover but hating to bake.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Playing the no-nonsense musical-hating science guy leaves the expansive star of Beetlejuice, School of Rock and Spamalot with too few enjoyments to share, too few moments of comic stage business, and certainly not enough songs to belt.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In 1988’s Moonwalk, co-edited by his friend Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Jackson acknowledged his distaste for revealing every detail about his life.—
Steve Knopper,
Rolling Stone,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Vanderpump Rules was basically built on Schroeder’s distaste for Shay (and on the male cast’s constant infidelity).—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Critics are sometimes contemptuous of the way superhero entertainment has been embraced by adults, who should presumably be making their way through the Booker Prize longlist.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Sara Hershkowitz’s wildly contemptuous Queen adds further soprano glory.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
All the scornful gazes of my schoolmates when Doc started to pick me up from campus had been worth it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Mar. 2026
-
During the decade since Hitler took power, women married to Jewish men defied scornful social, economic and political pressure, day after day.—
Danielle Wirsansky,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loathing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loathing. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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