distaste
C1Formal, educated, literary.
Definition
Meaning
A feeling of dislike or aversion, often linked to something unpleasant to the mind or senses.
A mild but persistent feeling of displeasure or disapproval, often of a moral or aesthetic nature.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a milder, more intellectual or aesthetic aversion than stronger words like 'hatred' or 'loathing'. Often used to signal personal preference or refined sensibility. Can border on euphemism when describing stronger dislike in a polite context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and frequency are very similar. The verb form 'distaste' is obsolete in both; modern usage is exclusively the noun.
Connotations
In both, it carries a connotation of formality and sometimes personal fastidiousness.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK English in certain formal/literary contexts, but overall comparable.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
distaste for [noun/phrase]distaste at [noun/gerund]in/with distasteto one's distasteVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “leave a bad/distasteful taste in the mouth”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in formal contexts to describe ethical or stylistic disapproval, e.g., 'The board viewed the proposal with distaste.'
Academic
Used in literary criticism, philosophy, and social sciences to describe aesthetic or moral aversion.
Everyday
Less common; used in more formal personal conversation, e.g., 'I have a real distaste for loud chewing.'
Technical
Rare, but can appear in psychology/neurology discussing aversive reactions.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have a distaste for very spicy food.
- He looked at the messy room with distaste.
- She couldn't hide her distaste for his rude comments.
- His distaste for modern art is well known.
- The politician's distaste for the media was evident in her terse replies.
- Despite his personal distaste for the plan, he voted in favour for strategic reasons.
- Her memoir conveys a profound distaste for the vacuity of celebrity culture.
- The judge's ruling was delivered with thinly veiled distaste for the defendant's conduct.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
DIS + TASTE = the opposite of 'taste'. Imagine tasting something you hate, then saying 'Dis-taste!'
Conceptual Metaphor
AESTHETIC/MORAL JUDGMENT IS TASTE; DISLIKE IS BAD TASTE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation from Russian 'неприязнь' which can be broader/more personal. 'Distaste' is more specific and formal.
- Not to be confused with 'disgust' (отвращение), which is stronger and more physical.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (incorrect: 'I distaste onions.' Correct: 'I have a distaste for onions.').
- Confusing with 'distasteful' (adjective).
Practice
Quiz
Which preposition most commonly follows 'distaste'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the verb 'distaste' is obsolete in modern English. Use 'dislike', 'find distasteful', or the noun phrase 'have a distaste for'.
'Distaste' is milder, more intellectual or aesthetic, and more formal. 'Disgust' is stronger, often involving a physical reaction of revulsion.
It's a C1-level word, common in formal, written, and literary contexts but less frequent in casual everyday speech where 'dislike' is preferred.
The adjective is 'distasteful', meaning causing dislike or offensive, e.g., 'a distasteful joke'.