1
a
: a foam or froth formed when a detergent (such as soap) is agitated in water
b
: foam or froth from profuse sweating (as on a horse)
2
: an agitated or overwrought state : dither
worked himself into a lather
Synonyms
Noun
Verb
- bash
- baste
- bat
- batter
- beat
- belabor
- belt
- birch
- bludgeon
- buffet
- bung up
- club
- curry
- do
- drub
- fib [British]
- flog
- hammer
- hide
- lace
- lambaste
- lambast
- lash
- lick
- maul
- mess (up)
- paddle
- pelt
- pommel
- pound
- pummel
- punch out
- rough (up)
- slate
- slog
- switch
- tan
- thrash
- thresh
- thump
- tromp
- wallop
- whale
- whip
- whop
- whap
- whup
- work over
Examples of lather in a Sentence
Noun
The soap and water formed a lot of lather.
The soap and water formed a lather.
Verb
He lathered his face before shaving.
the farmer lathered the recalcitrant mule
Recent Examples on the Web
Ashleigh Morley, Parents, 1 Nov. 2024
Just a pea-size amount is enough to create a satisfying lather for the whole face.
—Neha Tandon, Glamour, 28 Oct. 2024
Jacqueline Kilikita, refinery29.com, 19 Mar. 2024
Ensure your hands are fully saturated, as this helps the soap lather effectively and removes initial dirt or germs.2
2.
—Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lather 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Their spongy insides and soft, terry outsides create a nice, thick lather to get your little ones squeaky clean.
—Ashleigh Morley, Parents, 1 Nov. 2024
Just a pea-size amount is enough to create a satisfying lather for the whole face.
—Neha Tandon, Glamour, 28 Oct. 2024
Verb
The main ones with a bad rap include sulphates (which make your shampoo lather up to cleanse your hair), silicone (used to reduce frizz and add shine) and parabens (preservatives that stop products going off).
—Jacqueline Kilikita, refinery29.com, 19 Mar. 2024
Ensure your hands are fully saturated, as this helps the soap lather effectively and removes initial dirt or germs.2
2.
—Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lather
Dictionary Entries Near lather
Cite this Entry
“Lather.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lather. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lather
2 of 2 verb
lathered; lathering
ˈlat͟h-(ə-)riŋ 
1
: to spread lather over
2
: to form lather or a froth like lather
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