Aversion — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ə-ˈvər-zhən/ aver·sion

Meaning & Definition of Aversion

Aversion (noun)

  1. a feeling of repugnance toward something with a desire to avoid or turn from it
  2. a settled dislike, antipathy
  3. a tendency to extinguish a behavior or to avoid a thing or situation and especially a usually pleasurable one because it is or has been associated with a noxious stimulus

Aversion (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a dislike so strong as to cause stomach upset or queasiness

    "I simply have this ingrained aversion to the sight of bloodshed"

    similar: disgust, distaste, horror, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion
    related: abhorrence, abomination, antipathy, execration, hate, hatred, allergy, averseness, disapproval, disfavor, disinclination, dislike, disliking, displeasure
    near: appetite, bent, fancy, favor, fondness, like, liking, love, partiality, penchant, predilection, preference, propensity, relish, shine, taste, use

  2. a strong feeling of not liking or approving

    "couldn't overcome her aversion to her brother-in-law and pointedly avoided his company"

    similar: allergy, averseness, disfavor, disinclination, dislike, disliking, disrelish, down (chiefly British), mislike
    related: disgust, distaste, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion, abhorrence, abomination, antipathy, detestation, execration, hate, hatred, deprecation, disapproval, displeasure, dissatisfaction, jaundice
    opposite: appetite, favor, fondness, like, liking, partiality, preference, relish, shine, taste, use
    near: affection, attachment, devotedness, devotion, love, passion, bent, leaning, penchant, predilection, propensity, tendency

  3. something or someone that is hated

    "clichés should be the pet aversion of every good writer"

    similar: abhorrence, abomination, anathema, antipathy, bête noire, detestation, execration, hate
    related: dread, hang-up, horror, phobia, bogey, bugaboo, bugbear, adversary, enemy, annoyance, grievance, hassle, nuisance, peeve
    opposite: love
    near: beloved, darling, dear, honey, sweetheart, delight, enjoyment, felicity, joy, pleasure, favorite, like, preference, treasure

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Aversion

The most common words with a similar meaning to Aversion:

Chiefly British: down
disgust, distaste, horror, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion, allergy, averseness, disfavor, disinclination, dislike, disliking, disrelish, mislike, abhorrence, abomination, anathema, antipathy, bête noire, detestation, execration, hate

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Aversion

Words with the opposite meaning of Aversion:

appetite, favor, fondness, like, liking, partiality, preference, relish, shine, taste, use, love

Related Words for Aversion

hatred, disapproval, displeasure, deprecation, dissatisfaction, jaundice, dread, hang-up, phobia, bogey, bugaboo, bugbear, adversary, enemy, annoyance, grievance, hassle, nuisance, peeve

Near Antonyms of Aversion

bent, fancy, penchant, predilection, propensity, affection, attachment, devotedness, devotion, passion, leaning, tendency, beloved, darling, dear, honey, sweetheart, delight, enjoyment, felicity, joy, pleasure, favorite, treasure

Origin & Etymology of Aversion

First known use: 1585

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Aversion

Words & Phrases Containing Aversion

aversion therapy

Frequently Asked Questions about Aversion

What does "Aversion" mean?

"Aversion" means a feeling of repugnance toward something with a desire to avoid or turn from it. As a noun, it is defined as: a feeling of repugnance toward something with a desire to avoid or turn from it. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Aversion"?

Other words for "Aversion" include disgust, distaste, horror, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion and revulsion. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Aversion" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Aversion"?

There are 44 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Aversion". Common alternatives include disgust, distaste, horror, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion, allergy and averseness.

What is the opposite of "Aversion"?

Antonyms of "Aversion" include appetite, favor, fondness, like, liking, partiality, preference and relish. Near antonyms include bent, fancy, penchant and predilection.

How do you use "Aversion" in a sentence?

Examples of "Aversion" in a sentence: "I simply have this ingrained aversion to the sight of bloodshed"; "couldn't overcome her aversion to her brother-in-law and pointedly avoided his company"; "clichés should be the pet aversion of every good writer".

Is "Aversion" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Aversion" is a noun.

Is "Aversion" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Aversion" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Aversion"?

"Aversion" is pronounced /ə-ˈvər-zhən/ and divided into syllables as aver·sion.