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Disdain vs Loath - What's the difference?

disdain | loath |

In obsolete terms the difference between disdain and loath

is that disdain is the state of being despised; shame while loath is hostile, angry, loathsome, unpleasant.

As a noun disdain

is a feeling of contempt or scorn.

As a verb disdain

is to regard (someone or something) with strong contempt.

As an adjective loath is

unwilling, reluctant; averse, disinclined.

disdain

English

Noun

(-)
  • (uncountable) A feeling of contempt or scorn.
    • The cat viewed the cheap supermarket catfood with disdain and stalked away.
  • * William Shakespeare, Much ado about Nothing :
    • Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in her eyes.
  • (obsolete) That which is worthy to be disdained or regarded with contempt and aversion.
  • * Spenser
    • Most loathsome, filthy, foul, and full of vile disdain .
  • (obsolete) The state of being despised; shame.
    • (Shakespeare)

    Synonyms

    * condescension, contempt, scorn * See also

    Derived terms

    * disdainful

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To regard (someone or something) with strong contempt.
  • * Bible, 1 Sam. xvii. 42
    • When the Philistine saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth.
  • * The Qur'an, trans. , verse 170
  • *:The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, is but the apostle of God and His Word, […] The Messiah doth surely not disdain' to be a servant of God, nor do the angels who are nigh to Him ; and whosoever '''disdains''' His service and is too proud, He will gather them altogether to Himself. But as for those who believe and do what is right, He will pay their hire and will give increase to them of His grace. But as for those who ' disdain and are too proud, He will punish them with a grievous woe, and they shall not find for them other than God a patron or a help.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012, date=November 7, author=Matt Bai, title=Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds, work=New York Times citation
    • , passage=The country’s first black president, and its first president to reach adulthood after the Vietnam War and Watergate, Mr. Obama seemed like a digital-age leader who could at last dislodge the stalemate between those who clung to the government of the Great Society, on the one hand, and those who disdained the very idea of government, on the other.}}
  • (obsolete) To be indignant or offended.
  • * 1526 , William Tyndale, trans. Bible , Matthew XXI:
    • When the chefe prestes and scribes sawe, the marveylles that he dyd [...], they desdayned , and sayde unto hym: hearest thou what these saye?

    Synonyms

    * contemn * See also

    loath

    English

    Alternative forms

    * loth (mostly UK)

    Adjective

    (er)
  • unwilling, reluctant; averse, disinclined
    • I was loath to return to the office without the Henderson file.
  • * 1911 , (Jack London), The Whale Tooth
  • *:The frizzle-headed man-eaters were loath to leave their fleshpots so long as the harvest of human carcases was plentiful. Sometimes, when the harvest was too plentiful, they imposed on the missionaries by letting the word slip out that on such a day there would be a killing and a barbecue.
  • (obsolete) hostile, angry, loathsome, unpleasant

    • Usage notes

    * Often confused in meaning and pronunciation with loathe, a related transitive verb. * This spelling is about four times as common as "loth" in the UK and fifty times as common in the US.

    Synonyms

    * unwilling, reluctant, averse, disinclined

    Related terms

    * loathe

    Anagrams

    *