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Showing results for distasteful. Search instead for distastefulnesses.
Synonyms

distasteful

American  
[dis-teyst-fuhl] / dɪsˈteɪst fəl /

adjective

  1. unpleasant, offensive, or causing dislike.

    a distasteful chore.
    Synonyms:
    repulsive, repugnant, disagreeable

  2. unpleasant to the taste.

    a distasteful medicine.
    Synonyms:
    unsavory, unpalatable

  3. showing distaste or dislike.

distasteful British  
/ dɪsˈteɪstfʊl /

adjective

  1. unpleasant or offensive

"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

Other Word Forms

  • distastefully adverb
  • distastefulness noun
  • undistasteful adjective

Etymology

Origin of distasteful

First recorded in 1600–10; distaste + -ful

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.

The Alexanders’ lawyers argued that while the brothers’ behavior could be distasteful and crude, it didn’t amount to a federal crime.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

The frontman took umbrage at Jackson presenting himself as a messianic figure, protecting hundreds of children, calling the display "distasteful and crap".

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026

In part, that’s because even if the threats weren’t enough on their own, the texting story showed distasteful sides of Jones’ private personality.

From Slate • Nov. 4, 2025

Any evidence to the contrary is dismissed as airy-fairy daydreaming or a distasteful fluke.

From Salon • Sep. 7, 2025

I knew I couldn’t miss an opportunity to interview another one of our neighbors, no matter how distasteful I found him.

From "Confessions of a Murder Suspect" by James Patterson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.