Disgust
/dɪsˈɡʌst/
nounverbB2
Definition
Disgust is a strong feeling when you see, smell, or think about something very unpleasant, dirty, or morally wrong. It makes you want to avoid or reject that thing. As a verb, it means to cause someone to feel this strong dislike or sickness.
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⚡ See It in Action
A strong feeling of dislike or sickness caused by something unpleasant
- •She felt disgust when she saw the dirty kitchen.
- •The smell of the garbage caused him great disgust.
- •Many people feel disgust at cruelty to animals.
To cause someone to feel this strong dislike or sickness
- •The bad smell disgusted everyone at the party.
- •His rude behavior disgusted his friends.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "disgust" like "bad" or "yuck," but much stronger and more emotional—it makes you want to push something away
- ✓Picture the face you make when you smell rotten food or see something dirty—your nose wrinkles, and you want to move away
- ✓It's the feeling when you see something unfair or cruel that makes your stomach turn
- ✓Sounds like "dis-GUST" → imagine a gust (strong wind) blowing away something dirty or bad, taking away your comfort
- ✓Remember the feeling when you accidentally touch something slimy or smell something very bad—that strong reaction is disgust
- ✓NOT like "dislike" (which can be mild), disgust is much stronger and often physical (like nausea or wanting to avoid)
- ✓NOT like "fear" (which is about danger), disgust is about something unpleasant or gross
- ✓NOT like "anger" (which is about being upset), disgust is about feeling sick or repelled by something
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Revulsion: very strong feeling of disgust (Use when you want to express an even stronger, more physical reaction)
- •Loathing: deep dislike or hatred (Use when the feeling is very strong and long-lasting)
- •Dislike: mild feeling of not liking something (Use when the feeling is less strong and not physical)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "dis-" (expressing negation or removal) + root "gust" (related to taste or feeling)
- •Etymology: From Latin "disgustare," meaning "to taste badly" or "to have a bad taste"
- •Historical development: Originally related to bad taste in food, later extended to strong feelings of dislike or moral rejection
- •Modern usage: Used both for physical feelings of sickness or rejection and emotional reactions to unpleasant or offensive things
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can something cause disgust in one person but not in another? Why do you think that happens?
•How do people show disgust differently in different cultures or situations?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.The smell of rotten eggs caused ___ disgust ___ the whole room to clear out quickly.
2.She felt disgust ___ the way the animals were treated in the shelter.
3.Unlike simple dislike, disgust often causes a ___ physical reaction like nausea or turning away.
4.When he told the story, his behavior disgusted ___ friends and family.
5.People often feel disgust ___ dirty or spoiled food because it can make them sick.
6.The phrase "disgusted by" is often followed by a ___ noun or action that is unpleasant.
7.You can tell someone feels disgust when their face ___ wrinkles and they avoid touching something.