Word
distaste
Phoneticsdis·taste, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈsteɪst/
UK/dɪstˈeɪst/
Definition
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.
Examples
“He showed no distaste for the difficult work.”
“The committee expressed a general distaste for the proposal, though they did not vote against it.”
“Despite his distaste for the political climate, he remained in the city to ensure the transition of power was completed without further violence.”
Examples
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.”
Real-World Examples
“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 descent of man: are we developing a distaste for effort?” “Sen also inherited from Tagore a distaste for narrow identities.” Etymology
From dis- + taste.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/distaste