scunner

American  

[skuhn-er] / ˈskʌn ər /

noun

1. an irrational dislike; loathing.

   She took a scunner to him.

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verb (used without object)

1. Scot. and North England. to feel or show violent disgust, especially to flinch, blanch, or gag.

verb (used with object)

1. Scot. and North England. to disgust; nauseate.

scunner British  

/ ˈskʌnər, ˈskʌnə /

verb

1. (intr) to feel aversion

2. (tr) to produce a feeling of aversion in

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noun

1. a strong aversion (often in the phrase take a scunner to )

2. an object of dislike; nuisance

Etymology

Origin of scunner

1325–75; Middle English ( Scots ) skunner to shrink back in disgust, equivalent to skurn to flinch (akin to scare ) + -er -er ⁶, with loss of first r by dissimilation

Example Sentences

They recognise that this "scunner factor" can only take them so far and that setting out their Holyrood policies will invite much closer scrutiny.

From BBC • Jan. 2, 2026

They seem to be attracting voters who are fed up with more established parties but they acknowledge that this "scunner" factor can only take them so far.

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2025

It was known that the President had talked over his Slaughter scunner with National Chairman Bob Hannegan and other Party brass.

From Time Magazine Archive

A host of reserves, leaving the Navy, were returning to influential civilian life with a well-developed scunner against the "trade school," to which they sometimes also referred as the "prig factory."

From Time Magazine Archive

She gae me a kin' o' a scunner at them, honest woman, wi' garrin' me read at them o' Sundays, till they near scomfisht a' the guid 'at was in me by nater.

From David Elginbrod by MacDonald, George