loath, loathe, loathing, loathsome

Loath is an adjective meaning “reluctant” or “averse.”

• Wayne and Wendy were loath to volunteer at the races because they had no time for the extra work involved.

Loathe is a verb meaning “to hate or detest.”

• Would you say you loathe heavy metal music or simply find it annoying?

There is no e in loathsome or loathing.

• A more loathsome creature never crawled out from beneath a rotten log.
• Suddenly, Helena’s admiring gaze turned to a look of loathing.