loathsome

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. adjective causing or able to cause nausea
  2. adjective highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust

Etymology

From Middle English lothsum, from Old English *lāþsum, from Proto-West Germanic *laiþasam, equivalent to loath + -some. Cognate with Middle Low German lêtsam (“arduous”), German leidsam (“sad, sorry”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

nauseating, nauseous, noisome, queasy, offensive, sickening, vile

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