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disgust

[ dis-guhst, dih-skuhst ]
/ dɪsˈgʌst, dɪˈskʌst /
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See synonyms for: disgust / disgusted / disgusting on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
to cause loathing or nausea in.
to offend the good taste, moral sense, etc., of; cause extreme dislike or revulsion in: Your vulgar remarks disgust me.
noun
a strong distaste; nausea; loathing.
repugnance caused by something offensive; strong aversion: He left the room in disgust.
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Origin of disgust

1590–1600; (v.) <Middle French desgouster, equivalent to des-dis-1 + gouster to taste, relish, derivative of goust taste <Latin gusta (see choose); (noun) <Middle French desgoust, derivative of the v.

synonym study for disgust

4. See dislike.

OTHER WORDS FROM disgust

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH disgust

discussed, disgust
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT DISGUSTED

What does disgust mean?

Disgust is used to mean to cause nausea or loathing, as in The dirty, smelly kitchen disgusted the restaurant owner. 

In a related sense, disgust is used to mean a feeling of loathing or queasiness, as in Spiders always cause me to feel disgust. 

Disgust is also used to mean to offend someone’s good taste, as in The politician’s lies disgusted the voters, and he lost the election as a result. 

Disgust can be used in a related sense as a noun meaning an objection caused by something offensive. This usage is often written as “in disgust,” as in After hearing the sexist comments, the actress left the audition in disgust. 

The adjective disgusting comes from disgust and refers to something that causes disgust, as in Melanie thinks rats and mice are disgusting. 

Disgust can be confused with the similar-sounding discussed, which is the past tense of the word discuss, meaning to talk about something with other people.

Example: Cockroaches disgust most people, but I think they have a place in the world.

Where does disgust come from?

The first records of the word disgust come from around 1590. It comes from the Middle French desgouster, which combines the prefix des-, which indicates a negative and the word gouster, meaning “to taste.” If someone is disgusted by something, it means they have no taste for it or it makes them feel sick.

Disgust refers to the bad feeling you experience when you see or think about something really gross or something that makes you feel outraged. Many people agree that things like rats, bugs, odors, or oozing puss cause disgust. On the other hand, you might think something that most people like is disgusting, such as mayonnaise or swearing. Disgust is an opinion, and you’re allowed your opinion.

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What are some other forms related to disgust?

  • disgustedly (adverb)
  • disgustedness (noun)
  • predisgust (noun)
  • quasidisgusted (adjective)

What are some synonyms for disgust?

What are some words that share a root or word element with disgust? 

What are some words that often get used in discussing disgust?

What are some words disgust may be commonly confused with?

How is disgust used in real life?

Disgust is a word people use to describe the bad feelings they have when something offends them or turns their stomach (or both).

Try using disgust!

Which of the following words is a synonym for disgust?

A. anger
B. sicken
C. sadden
D. please

Words related to disgust

antipathy, aversion, dislike, distaste, hatred, loathing, repulsion, revulsion, bother, disenchant, displease, disturb, insult, irk, nauseate, offend, outrage, revolt, shock, sicken

How to use disgust in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for disgust

disgust
/ (dɪsˈɡʌst) /
verb (tr)
to sicken or fill with loathing
to offend the moral sense, principles, or taste of
noun
a great loathing or distaste aroused by someone or something
in disgust as a result of disgust

Derived forms of disgust

disgustedly, adverbdisgustedness, noun

Word Origin for disgust

C16: from Old French desgouster, from des- dis- 1 + gouster to taste, from goust taste, from Latin gustus
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
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