disagreeable

[ dis-uh-gree-uh-buhl ]

adjective

1. contrary to one's taste or liking; unpleasant; offensive; repugnant.
2. unpleasant in manner or nature; unamiable:

   a thoroughly disagreeable person.

   Synonyms: testy, surly, grouchy, cross

noun

1. an unpleasant or repugnant circumstance, attribute, thing, etc.:

   Bent on being cheerful, he suppressed any mention of the disagreeable in our conversation.

2. disagreeables, the disagreeable aspects of a situation, course of action, etc.:

   The pleasant features of the arrangement far outweigh the disagreeables.

disagreeable

/ ˌdɪsəˈɡriːəbəl /

adjective

1. not likable, esp bad-tempered, offensive, or disobliging

   disagreeable remarks

2. not to one's liking; unpleasant

   a disagreeable task

Derived Forms

• ˌdisaˈgreeableness, noun
• ˌdisaˈgreeably, adverb

Other Words From

• disa·greea·ble·ness disa·greea·bili·ty noun
• disa·greea·bly adverb
• undis·a·greea·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of disagreeable¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Middle French word desagreable. See dis- ¹, agreeable

Example Sentences

Interestingly, the biggest cluster of disagreeable came from voters under the age of 50, suggesting the parties may have to eventually calibrate their rhetoric.

From Time

When he inspected the man’s mouth, he noticed that his gums were “spongy” and “bleeding,” his back teeth were loose and his breath was “extremely disagreeable.”

From Time

They believed “debate should be civil and dignified … it was possible to disagree without being disagreeable.”

From The Daily Beast

Her disagreeable nature made it nearly impossible for her to hold down a job.

From The Daily Beast

They modified and truncated a quote to come to avoid disagreeable facts, a charge which they also fail to answer.

From The Daily Beast

It was a disagreeable business and the only occasion I can remember that we quarreled.

From The Daily Beast

America needs a green eyeshade party willing to do the disagreeable work of squeezing waste from the system.

From The Daily Beast

There were other children beside, and two nurse-maids followed, looking disagreeable and resigned.

From Project Gutenberg

He was very disagreeable about the house when he returned home, and his wife adroitly kept out of his sight.

From Project Gutenberg

Their boasted successes, the crowding of colonies, schemes of settlement and development,—all were disagreeable and irritating.

From Project Gutenberg

There's no use anticipating things disagreeable or otherwise; we'll simply have to take them as they come.

From Project Gutenberg

One of the most disagreeable things in Rio Janeiro is the total absence of sewers.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• annoying
• distasteful
• distressing
• objectionable
• obnoxious
• repulsive
• unpalatable
• unpleasant
• unsavory