"Loathe" means to dislike intensely. Its opposites include verbs for affection, enjoyment, appreciation, respect, and willing acceptance. Useful choices include Adore, Cherish, Love, and Like.
Choosing the Best Antonym for “Loathe”
Quick options:
- Adore
- Cherish
- Love
- Like
- Enjoy
- Appreciate
- Admire
- Esteem
- Value
- Treasure
- Embrace
- Welcome
- Relish
- Favour
- Revere
- Delight in
Adore
Choose “Adore” when the sentence is contrasting with “Loathe” specifically around fits when the contrast concerns strong affection.
Example: A writer might pair “Adore” against “Loathe” when fits when the contrast concerns strong affection is the meaning being reversed.
Cherish
“Cherish” belongs in this list because it can counter the sense of “Loathe” tied to fits when the contrast concerns strong affection.
Example: For a sentence built around fits when the contrast concerns strong affection, “Cherish” can express the counterpoint to “Loathe”.
Love
The opposition between “Love” and “Loathe” is clearest where the context involves fits when the contrast concerns strong affection.
Example: Where the context makes fits when the contrast concerns strong affection central, “Love” can serve as a contextual opposite to “Loathe”.
Like
“Like” can function as a contextual antonym when “Loathe” carries the sense of fits when the contrast concerns pleasure or enjoyment.
Example: The contrast “Like” versus “Loathe” works most clearly when the sentence concerns fits when the contrast concerns pleasure or enjoyment.
Enjoy
Enjoy fits when the contrast concerns pleasure or enjoyment. In this use, it clearly reverses the relevant sense of “Loathe”.
Example: If “Loathe” is being used to mean fits when the contrast concerns pleasure or enjoyment, “Enjoy” can supply a meaningful contrast.
Appreciate
“Appreciate” is a defensible contrast if the relevant meaning of “Loathe” is fits when the contrast concerns respect or positive evaluation.
Example: A careful rewrite may choose “Appreciate” when it needs to push away from “Loathe” in the area of fits when the contrast concerns respect or positive evaluation.
Admire
Choose “Admire” when the surrounding wording makes fits when the contrast concerns respect or positive evaluation the basis of the contrast.
Example: “Admire” is most useful as a contrast where “Loathe” carries the sense of fits when the contrast concerns respect or positive evaluation.
Esteem
“Esteem” can oppose “Loathe” without implying a universal antonym relationship, especially where the context is fits when the contrast concerns respect or positive evaluation.
Example: In context, “Esteem” can oppose “Loathe” without implying that the two words are antonyms in every sense.
Value
The term “Value” works as a counterpoint to “Loathe” in sentences about fits when the contrast concerns respect or positive evaluation.
Example: A sentence about fits when the contrast concerns respect or positive evaluation can use “Value” to establish the intended contrast with “Loathe”.
Treasure
“Treasure” can express the reverse direction from “Loathe” when the issue is fits when the contrast concerns strong affection.
Example: When fits when the contrast concerns strong affection is the relevant meaning, “Treasure” can give the sentence a clearer opposite direction.
Embrace
Use “Embrace” as a contrast where “Loathe” points toward fits when the contrast concerns acceptance or approval.
Example: A writer can use “Embrace” as a counterpoint to “Loathe” in a context involving fits when the contrast concerns acceptance or approval.
Welcome
“Welcome” is most accurate as an opposite when the sentence is really about fits when the contrast concerns acceptance or approval.
Example: The choice “Welcome” works best as an opposite when the sentence is really about fits when the contrast concerns acceptance or approval.
Relish
Choose “Relish” when “Loathe” needs to be countered in a context centred on fits when the contrast concerns pleasure or enjoyment.
Example: In a rewrite focused on fits when the contrast concerns pleasure or enjoyment, “Relish” can provide a defensible contrast to “Loathe”.
Favour
“Favour” can mark a useful contrast to “Loathe” where the relevant meaning is fits when the contrast concerns acceptance or approval.
Example: Where “Loathe” expresses fits when the contrast concerns acceptance or approval, “Favour” can be used to shift the wording toward the opposing sense.
Revere
The wording “Revere” is appropriate as a contrast when fits when the contrast concerns respect or positive evaluation is the sense being reversed.
Example: A contrast with “Loathe” becomes clearer when “Revere” is used in a sentence about fits when the contrast concerns respect or positive evaluation.
Delight in
“Delight in” can contrast with “Loathe” when the relevant sense involves fits when the contrast concerns pleasure or enjoyment.
Example: In a sentence where “Loathe” points to fits when the contrast concerns pleasure or enjoyment, “Delight in” can signal the contrasting idea.
Choosing the Right Antonym for “Loathe”
"Love", "adore", and "cherish" are strong emotional opposites; "enjoy" and "relish" suit experiences; "esteem", "admire", and "revere" emphasize respect.