Word: disgust

Associations

Disgust is a strong feeling of dislike or repulsion towards something that is unpleasant or offensive. It often involves a reaction to something that is considered dirty or morally wrong.

• Example 1: "He felt disgust when he saw the mess in the kitchen." (In this example, the mess is unpleasant and makes him feel a strong sense of dislike.)
• Example 2: "Her disgust for lying led her to confront her friend." (Here, the feeling of disgust is connected to moral values and honesty.)
• Example 3: "The smell of the rotten food filled him with disgust." (In this case, a physical reaction to a foul smell creates the feeling of disgust.)

The well-known synonym for disgust is "revulsion." The main difference is that disgust can refer to both physical and moral feelings, while revulsion often implies a more intense reaction, usually towards something physically disgusting.

Substitution

In place of "disgust," you could use:

• aversion: This implies a strong dislike but might not convey as strong an emotional response.
• distaste: This indicates a slight displeasure or dislike, but isn't as strong as disgust.
• repulsion: This suggests a strong reaction to something that causes a feeling of being pushed away.

Each word may change the intensity or the context of the feeling.

Deconstruction

The word "disgust" comes from two parts:

• "dis": a prefix meaning negation or removal.
• "gust": derived from the Latin word "gustare," which means to taste.

Together, it suggests a reaction that negates a pleasant taste or experience, meaning it can represent a loss of pleasure.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you felt disgust about something? What was it, and why did you feel that way?
• How do you think disgust might affect someone's behavior or decisions?
• Are there cultural differences in what people find disgusting? Can you think of an example?