loath
12
6.9
- adjective
- /loʊθ/
:
reacio
- She was loath to leave the warm house on such a cold day.
- loath to admit
- loath to give
- loath to accept
They called themselves the last children of the Inkuroy, though they were loath to speak of their old fathers.
- They called themselves the last children of the Inkuroy, though they were loath to speak of their old fathers.
- Because of this, most employers are loath to call the narcissistic people out, let them go, or address the toxic culture.
- Why are we so loath to engage in these types of conversations when the reality is we all know it's basic common sense.
- My avenues towards screenshots have been diminishing and I have used other avenues to screenshots and I'm loath to talk about them here.
Examples
-
As I approach, I find myself loath to see my photo subject.
Fiction book (1996) -
I'm loath to ask, but have you told Richard about it?
-
Or do you know, but are loath to claim it as your own?
-
Oh, I am right loath to go.
-
There is nothing a man is more loath to experience than a woman who does not take him seriously.
Fiction book (1993) -
Why are we so loath to engage in these types of conversations when the reality is we all know it's basic common sense.
-
Why are some of us so loath to accept evolution at all, despite overwhelming evidence?
Academic text (1990) -
Some men aren't capable of this, but I'd be loath to think your father one of them.
-
Consequently, many parents, teachers, and others are loath to use any reinforcement procedure under any conditions.
Academic text (2004) -
And by temperament, American policymakers are loath to share leadership with other nations.
Academic text (1992)
Synonyms
247
3.5
Not willing to do something because you feel unsure
139
3.4
Not wanting to do something and doing it only because you must
26
6.4
A person who strongly dislikes something and tries to avoid it
5
6.4
Not willing to do something because you do not really want to
Not willing to do something
Not willing to do something
Antonyms
How Reluctant
Surface Forms
Etymology
Loath comes from an old English word that meant 'hateful' or 'unwilling'. It is related to the verb loathe ('to hate'), so if you are loath to do something you strongly dislike it or are unwilling to do it.