variants
also loth
or lothe
as in reluctant
slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty
I was loath to accept his claim of having climbed Mount Everest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of loath
Visiting her mother in 1982 with the intention of writing a family memoir of sorts, Niki struggles to square her westernized upbringing with a Japanese history and heritage that her mother is loath to talk about.
—
Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 May 2025
Air strikes were not enough to defeat the Yemenis, but the Saudi Arabians and the Emiratis were loath to have their armies engage in ground combat.
—Nicolas Niarchos, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
Some Republicans who’ve been loath to disagree publicly with Trump in recent months seem to share those concerns.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 9 May 2025
Courts may be loath to undermine a legal institution around which so many people plan their lives, Ms. Bonauto says.
—Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for loath
Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 May 2025
Air strikes were not enough to defeat the Yemenis, but the Saudi Arabians and the Emiratis were loath to have their armies engage in ground combat.
—Nicolas Niarchos, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
Some Republicans who’ve been loath to disagree publicly with Trump in recent months seem to share those concerns.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 9 May 2025
Courts may be loath to undermine a legal institution around which so many people plan their lives, Ms. Bonauto says.
—Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for loath
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loath
Adjective
-
Elsewhere in the country, too, state agencies and providers that rely on SAMHSA funding and technical support are feeling isolated, lost and reluctant to reach out to the federal staff left at the agency, says Dr. Eric Rafla-Yuan, a psychiatrist in San Diego, Calif.—
Rhitu Chatterjee,
NPR,
6 June 2025
-
Jobless claims — a proxy for layoffs — still remain low by historical standards, suggesting that employers are reluctant to cut staff despite uncertainty over Trump’s policies.—
Paul Wiseman,
Los Angeles Times,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
Businesses that have invested years in tailoring their systems may be hesitant to risk functionality loss or reintegrate complex tools.—
Eric Giesecke,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
-
Kwame was hesitant to take the plunge for several reasons, the most prominent being his mother's refusal to attend the wedding.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Loath.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loath. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share