disgust

1 of 2

noun

dis·​gust di-ˈskəst How to pronounce disgust (audio)
dis-ˈgəst,
 also  diz-
: marked aversion aroused by something highly distasteful : repugnance
wrinkled her nose in disgust
his disgust at the way the media has been covering the story

disgust

2 of 2

verb

disgusted; disgusting; disgusts

transitive verb

1
: to provoke to loathing, repugnance, or aversion : be offensive to
The idea of eating raw meat disgusts him.
2
: to cause (one) to lose an interest or intention
is disgusted by their ignorance

intransitive verb

: to cause disgust

Examples of disgust in a Sentence

Noun He eyed the greasy food with disgust. As the smell of garbage drifted through the air, she wrinkled her nose in disgust. He talked about his disgust with the way the news media focuses on celebrities. Much to the disgust of some listeners, the speech was interrupted several times by a few people in the audience. She shook her head in disgust when I described the scene. Verb She's a vegetarian because the idea of eating meat totally disgusts her. The photographs disgust some people.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
When others recoiled in disgust from sick and suffering people, the Buddha cared for them, showing that healing and dignity come from love. Rabbi Dana Magat, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2025 Standing across the street, Nina Levene, 60, a lifelong New Yorker whose mother is a Holocaust survivor, sneered in disgust. Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
Your husband is disgusted with you too but is trying his best to clean up too. Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2025 In her discussion of Christianity, King relishes the absurdity that results when a religion that is disgusted by female sexuality also engages in mother worship. S. C. Cornell, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disgust

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle French desgouster, from des- dis- + goust taste, from Latin gustus; akin to Latin gustare to taste — more at choose

First Known Use

Noun

1598, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1616, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of disgust was in 1598

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disgust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disgust. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

disgust

1 of 2 noun
dis·​gust dis-ˈgəst How to pronounce disgust (audio)
: a strong feeling of dislike caused especially by something sickening or evil

disgust

2 of 2 verb
: to cause to feel disgust
disgusted adjective
disgustedly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on disgust

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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