distaste

Definitions

dis- (not, away) + taste = the mental version of a bad taste in your mouth. distaste is a turning-away, a mild aversion. It is almost always abstract now: a distaste for gossip, for confrontation, for cruelty — the feeling of finding something unpleasant rather than the literal flavor.

Why It Means This

Note that distaste is milder than disgust. disgust is a strong, almost physical revulsion; distaste is a quiet preference against something. You can feel distaste for a person's manners without being disgusted by them.

Common Collocations

• 1.a distaste for对……反感
• 2.with distaste带着厌恶
• 3.deep distaste深恶痛绝
• 4.obvious distaste明显的嫌恶

Example Sentences

• 1.

  She made no effort to hide her distaste for the plan.

• 2.

  He has a deep distaste for office politics.

• 3.

  They eyed the messy room with obvious distaste.

Easily Confused

distaste vs disgust — both express dislike, but differ in strength. distaste is mild and abstract: a distaste for small talk. disgust is strong and often physical: the smell filled her with disgust. If your stomach turns, it's disgust; if you'd simply rather avoid it, it's distaste.