TOEIC Link Part 5: loath versus loathe
Loath and loathe are separated by a single silent -e, but that letter marks a change of word class and of meaning. Loath (no final e) is an adjective meaning reluctant or unwilling, and it is nearly always followed by to plus a verb. Loathe (with final e) is a verb meaning to hate or detest something strongly. Part 5 rewards you for asking whether the blank needs a description of unwillingness or an action of hating. For the wider set of look-alike traps, start with the commonly confused word pairs master index.
The core rule: reluctant versus hate
- loath (adjective) = reluctant, unwilling. Management was loath to cut the training budget. / She is loath to commit without a written quote. It answers how unwilling was someone to act? and it takes the pattern be loath to + verb. It is pronounced with a soft th (as in both). Anchor it: loath has no final e and describes a state of reluctance.
- loathe (verb) = to hate, detest, or dislike intensely. Commuters loathe the crowded rush-hour trains. / He loathes filling out expense reports. It answers what did someone strongly dislike? and it takes a direct object. It is pronounced with a voiced th (as in bathe). Anchor it with the final -e: a verb like breathe or bathe, an action you perform.
A quick anchor: loath (no e) = reluctant (an adjective, usually loath to); loathe (with e) = hate (a verb with an object). You are loath to attend a meeting you loathe.
Why Part 5 likes this pair
The two words look almost identical, so the wrong option passes a quick glance. The item is decided by the grammar around the blank: an adjective slot after a linking verb and before to (choose loath), or a verb slot taking a direct object (choose loathe).
The board was __ to approve additional spending in a weak quarter.
The blank follows was and precedes to approve, an adjective slot describing unwillingness, so it needs loath.
Many employees __ the new time-tracking system.
The blank is the main verb and takes the system as its object, so it needs loathe.
Spotting the clue
Check the slot the blank sits in, then decide whether the sentence needs a description or an action:
- Does the blank follow a linking verb (is / was / are / seemed) and come before to + a verb, describing reluctance? → choose the adjective loath (loath to sign, loath to change course).
- Is the blank the main verb taking a direct object, expressing strong dislike? → choose the verb loathe (loathe the commute, loathes paperwork).
A quick test: can you replace the word with "reluctant"? Then it is the adjective loath. Can you replace it with "hate" or "detest"? Then it is the verb loathe. In TOEIC business scenarios, executives are often loath to raise prices, delay launches, or share forecasts, while staff loathe long meetings, clunky software, and last-minute changes. For more pairs where one swapped or silent letter flips the meaning, see the adjective and adverb confusable pairs study guide. Another homophone trap worth reviewing next is pore versus pour.