Meanings
plural loathsomenesses
- uncountableThe nature or property that gives rise to revulsion or inspires loathing.
Must putrefaction's breath / Leave nothing of this heavenly sight / But loathsomeness and ruin?
1813, Percy Bysshe Shelley, “Canto I”, in Queen Mab; […], London: […] P. B. Shelley, […], →OCLC, page 21 more example
For my part I would rather counſell you to deſtroy your Rattes and Miſe with Traps, Banes, or Weeſels: for beſides the ſluttiſhneſſe ⁊ lothſomeneſſe of the Catte (you know what ſhe layes in the Malt heape) ſhe is moſt daungerous and pernicious among children, as I mee ſelf haue had good experience.
1577, Conradus Heresbachius [i.e., Konrad Heresbach], compiler, “The Third Booke, of Feeding, Breeding, and Curing of Cattell”, in Barnabe Googe, transl., Fovre Bookes of Husbandry, […]: Conteyning the Whole Arte and Trade of Husbandry, with the Antiquitie, and Commendation thereof. […], London: […] Richard Watkins, →OCLC, folio 156, verso
Synonyms & antonyms
nounthe quality of being disgusting to the senses or emotions
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Middle Englishlothsomnesse
- Englishloathsomeness
From Middle English lothsomnesse, loþsumnes, lathsumnes; equivalent to loathsome + -ness.
More words from Middle English
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
loathsomeness. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/loathsomeness
“loathsomeness.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/loathsomeness. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “loathsomeness,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/loathsomeness.
Source: loathsomeness on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.