Dislike — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /(ˌ)dis-ˈlīk/ dis·like

Meaning & Definition of Dislike

Dislike (noun)

  1. a feeling of aversion or disapproval
  2. discord
  3. something that a person habitually does not like or enjoy

Dislike (verb)

  1. to regard with dislike, disapprove
  2. displease
  3. to show aversion to

Dislike (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a strong feeling of not liking or approving

    "we have a strong dislike for olives and wouldn't eat them even if we were paid"

    similar: allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disinclination, 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

  2. refusal to accept as right or desirable

    "the public's general dislike of negative campaign ads"

    similar: deprecation, disapprobation, disapproval, discountenance, disesteem, disfavor, displeasure
    related: disrelish, distaste, rejection, thumbs-down, blame, censure, condemnation, criticism, denunciation, dispraise, opprobrium, reprehension, reproach, reprobation, antagonism, antipathy, hostility, belittlement, disparagement, objection, opposition
    opposite: approbation, approval, favor
    near: acclaim, commendation, praise, endorsement, sanction, thumbs-up, empathy, sympathy

Dislike (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to feel dislike for

    "the two dogs disliked each other the first time they met, and never did become friends"

    similar: disfavor, disrelish, mislike
    related: abhor, abominate, detest, execrate, hate, loathe, resent, condemn, despise, scorn, cringe (at), disapprove (of), frown (on or upon), mind, object (to), shy (from or away from)
    opposite: adore, cotton (to), delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), like, love, relish, revel (in)
    near: admire, appreciate, cherish, esteem, regard, respect, adore, deify, idolize, revere, reverence, venerate, worship, prize, treasure, value, drink (in), savor, dote (on), favor, prefer

  2. to hold an unfavorable opinion of

    "dislike the governor's heavy-handed way of pushing his agenda"

    similar: deprecate, disapprove (of), discountenance, disesteem, disfavor, frown (on or upon), mislike, reprove, tsk-tsk, tut (over or about), tut-tut (over or about), look down one's nose (on)
    related: disrelish, object (to), pooh-pooh, reject, reprehend, reprobate, scorn, censure, condemn, criticize, denounce, discommend, chide, rebuke, reproach, scold
    opposite: approve, favor, like
    near: endorse, sanction, support, adore, delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), love, relish, revel (in)

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Dislike

The most common words with a similar meaning to Dislike:

Chiefly British: down
allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disinclination, disliking, disrelish, mislike, deprecation, disapprobation, disapproval, discountenance, disesteem, displeasure, deprecate, disapprove (of), frown (on or upon), reprove, tsk-tsk, tut (over or about), tut-tut (over or about), look down one's nose (on)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Dislike

Words with the opposite meaning of Dislike:

appetite, favor, fondness, like, liking, partiality, preference, relish, shine, taste, use, approbation, approval, adore, cotton (to), delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), love, revel (in), approve

Related Words for Dislike

disgust, distaste, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion, abhorrence, abomination, antipathy, detestation, execration, hate, hatred, dissatisfaction, jaundice, rejection, thumbs-down, blame, censure, condemnation, criticism, denunciation, dispraise, opprobrium, reprehension, reproach, reprobation, antagonism, hostility

Near Antonyms of Dislike

affection, attachment, devotedness, devotion, passion, bent, leaning, penchant, predilection, propensity, tendency, acclaim, commendation, praise, endorsement, sanction, thumbs-up, empathy, sympathy, admire, appreciate, cherish, esteem, regard, respect, deify, idolize, revere, reverence, venerate

Word Forms of Dislike

Inflections: dislikes, disliked, disliking

Derived words: disliker (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Dislike

First known use: 1567

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Dislike

Frequently Asked Questions about Dislike

What does "Dislike" mean?

"Dislike" means a feeling of aversion or disapproval. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a feeling of aversion or disapproval. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Dislike"?

Other words for "Dislike" include allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disinclination, disliking, disrelish and down. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Dislike" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Dislike"?

There are 80 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Dislike". Common alternatives include allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disinclination, disliking, disrelish, down, mislike and deprecation.

What is the opposite of "Dislike"?

Antonyms of "Dislike" include appetite, favor, fondness, like, liking, partiality, preference and relish. Near antonyms include affection, attachment, devotedness and devotion.

How do you use "Dislike" in a sentence?

Examples of "Dislike" in a sentence: "we have a strong dislike for olives and wouldn't eat them even if we were paid"; "the public's general dislike of negative campaign ads"; "the two dogs disliked each other the first time they met, and never did become friends".

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

"Dislike" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

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

As a B1-level word, "Dislike" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Dislike"?

"Dislike" is pronounced /(ˌ)dis-ˈlīk/ and divided into syllables as dis·like.