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Synonyms

distaste

American  
[dis-teyst] / dɪsˈteɪst /

noun

  1. dislike; disinclination.

    Synonyms:
    disgust, repugnance, aversion
  2. dislike for food or drink.


verb (used with object)

distasted, distasting
  1. Archaic. to dislike.

distaste British  
/ dɪsˈteɪst /

noun

  1. (often foll by for) an absence of pleasure (in); dislike (of); aversion (to)

    to look at someone with distaste

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) an archaic word for dislike

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Synonym Usage

See dislike.

Etymology

Origin of distaste

First recorded in 1580–90; dis- 1 + taste

Explanation

When you're disgusted by something, or simply dislike it, you have a distaste for it. You might have such a distaste for the smell of meat cooking that you only go to vegetarian restaurants. Some people have a distaste for living in the suburbs, while others feel distaste at the thought of living packed into a large city with millions of other people. You might have a distaste for the sport of boxing, while your boxing-loving cousin's distaste is for ice dancing and synchronized swimming. When something's just not your taste — you don't care for it — you can say you have a distaste for it.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing distaste

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Distaste for mediocrity has been a theme for the comic in recent weeks.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 13, 2025

Distaste about the alleged architect of Lockerbie's readmission into the world leaders' club lingered in many circles, not least among the US victims' families and their supporters.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2011

Distaste for the suburbs is conveyed by mentioning "trimmed lawns and neat flower beds," thus artfully suggesting both compulsiveness and a high level of intolerance for life in its hearty, untrimmed state.

From Time Magazine Archive

Distaste for the literary classics is an inhibition commonly traced to English teachers.

From Time Magazine Archive

Distaste for her physical awareness mounted upon her old peculiar aversion.

From Star-Dust by Hurst, Fannie

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