English Reference
Noun

distaste

n.
C1 Advanced US /dɪˈsteɪst/ UK /dɪstˈeɪst/ dis·taste UK spelling distasted, distastes, distasting

n.a feeling of not liking or being upset by something. It is a more formal and slightly older word than 'dislike'.

n.a feeling of aversion or lack of pleasure toward something. Often used in formal or literary contexts to describe a mild but definite sense of disapproval.


SIMPLE

He showed no distaste for the difficult work.

CONTEXTUAL

The committee expressed a general distaste for the proposal, though they did not vote against it.

COMPLEX

Despite his distaste for the political climate, he remained in the city to ensure the transition of power was completed without further violence.

While punk rock made zero initial impact on Nashville, Stewart, with his raucous swagger and distaste for Music City’s establishment, embodied punk’s spirit; Joe Strummer was a fan.

The Guardian· 17 Aug 2026

From dis- + taste.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated