distasteful
adjective
dis·taste·ful (ˌ)dis-ˈtāst-fəl 
1
a
: objectionable because offensive to one's personal taste : unpleasant, disagreeable
found the job distasteful
a shady, distasteful character
b
: objectionable because in poor taste, inappropriate, or unethical
a harmless stroking … but it seems oddly distasteful in retrospect
Richard Sandza et al.
Richard Sandza et al.2
: unpleasant to the taste
distasteful unripe fruit
distastefully
(ˌ)dis-ˈtāst-fə-lē
adverb distastefulness noun
Synonyms
- brackish
- unappetizing
- unpalatable
- unsavory
- yucky
- yukky
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The work was distasteful, but it was the best I could find at the time. It was a distasteful subject to him.
Recent Examples on the Web In the Queen’s own family, her second son, Andrew, offered in his middle years a case study in the distasteful enjoyment of unearned opportunity. Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2022 The unprofessional banter was inexcusable then and remains distasteful now. Emily Anderson Stern, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 Sep. 2022 Nicki willingly aligning herself with this kind of distasteful company dampens any celebratory feelings about her No. 1 achievements. Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 23 Aug. 2022 The best of Mykonos style is distinctively different from that of Ibiza or St Tropez — polished yet relaxed, chic yet not overdone, daring yet not distasteful. Angela Lei, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022 Harvesting your own meat is a way to opt out of the distasteful aspects of factory farming. Rachel Levin, Outside Online, 8 Sep. 2020 This triangle of misfits is prime distasteful Dunham. Armond White, National Review, 17 Aug. 2022 Without a healthy dose of historical linguistics, Freeman said, English studies would fill up with distasteful tittle-tattle. Christopher Tayler, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 Giant leopard moths, a black-and-white version of their namesake, exude distasteful golden droplets from their shoulders when disturbed. Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 21 July 2022 See More
Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2022 The unprofessional banter was inexcusable then and remains distasteful now. Emily Anderson Stern, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 Sep. 2022 Nicki willingly aligning herself with this kind of distasteful company dampens any celebratory feelings about her No. 1 achievements. Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 23 Aug. 2022 The best of Mykonos style is distinctively different from that of Ibiza or St Tropez — polished yet relaxed, chic yet not overdone, daring yet not distasteful. Angela Lei, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022 Harvesting your own meat is a way to opt out of the distasteful aspects of factory farming. Rachel Levin, Outside Online, 8 Sep. 2020 This triangle of misfits is prime distasteful Dunham. Armond White, National Review, 17 Aug. 2022 Without a healthy dose of historical linguistics, Freeman said, English studies would fill up with distasteful tittle-tattle. Christopher Tayler, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 Giant leopard moths, a black-and-white version of their namesake, exude distasteful golden droplets from their shoulders when disturbed. Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 21 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
distasteful
adjective
dis·taste·ful dis-ˈtāst-fəl
: unpleasant
a distasteful subject
distasteful
adjective
1
as in unpalatable
disagreeable or disgusting to the sense of taste cod-liver oil is so distasteful that it's worse than anything it cures Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- unpalatable
- unappetizing
- horrible
- unsavory
- awful
- bad
- yucky
- nasty
- repugnant
- repulsive
- revolting
- obnoxious
- bland
- brackish
- loathsome
- offensive
- abominable
- filthy
- yukky
- sickening
- nauseating
- shocking
- repellent
- insipid
- foul
- noisome
- tasteless
- repellant
- flavorless
- savorless
- flat
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- palatable
- delicious
- appetizing
- tasty
- delectable
- attractive
- yummy
- appealing
- savoury
- savory
- piquant
- rich
- toothsome
- flavorful
- delish
2
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses concerned mothers who find some recent musical trends distasteful Synonyms & Similar Words
- unpleasant
- unpleasing
- harsh
- disgusting
- bad
- ugly
- nasty
- horrible
- awful
- sickening
- disagreeable
- bitter
- unpalatable
- sour
- unwelcome
- shocking
- icky
- rotten
- unsavory
- uncongenial
- displeasing
- unlovely
- dreadful
- hideous
- yucky
- wicked
- vile
- repugnant
- abhorrent
- repulsive
- revolting
- odious
- annoying
- loathsome
- obnoxious
- hateful
- appalling
- obscene
- abominable
- offensive
- irritating
- scandalous
- yukky
- ghastly
- invidious
- horrid
- nauseating
- sick
- repellent
- gross
- horrendous
- unholy
- seamy
- aggravating
- hellish
- nauseous
- foul
- vexing
- villainous
- bilious
- noisome
- revulsive
- god-awful
- miserable
- galling
- gnarly
- wretched
- beastly
- repellant
- crappy
- crummy
- lousy
- sucky
- crumby
- cruddy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pleasant
- agreeable
- nice
- pleasurable
- good
- palatable
- gratifying
- satisfying
- congenial
- delightful
- grateful
- welcome
- delicious
- pleasing
- charming
- sweet
- friendly
- amiable
- delectable
- dreamy
- jolly
- kindly
- felicitous
- cheery
3
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment the distasteful nature of his job as a bill collector Synonyms & Similar Words
- disgusting
- ugly
- awful
- horrible
- sickening
- hideous
- shocking
- obscene
- offensive
- obnoxious
- unpleasant
- dreadful
- nasty
- repugnant
- abhorrent
- repulsive
- revolting
- odious
- loathsome
- appalling
- abominable
- evil
- gruesome
- scandalous
- gross
- undesirable
- noxious
- horrid
- nauseating
- repellent
- horrific
- terrible
- disturbing
- horrendous
- vile
- objectionable
- nauseous
- noisome
- foul
- rancid
- disagreeable
- fulsome
- hateful
- repellant
- unwanted
- detestable
- horrifying
- despicable
- contemptible
- miserable
- monstrous
- unsavory
- unwholesome
- heinous
- grim
- unhealthy
- unwelcome
- exceptionable
- ghastly
- upsetting
- atrocious
- grisly
- dislikable
- unspeakable
- dislikeable
- uncivilized
- macabre
- nightmarish
- brackish
- hard
- barbarous
- execrable
- lurid
- sick
- frightful
- off-putting
- unchristian
- ungodly
- sickly
- unholy
- lousy
- distressing
- sickish
- grewsome
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- innocuous
- acceptable
- desirable
- inoffensive
- attractive
- pleasant
- delightful
- agreeable
- enjoyable
- appealing
- delicious
- alluring
- nice
- pleasurable
- sweet
- gratifying
- palatable
- satisfying
- congenial
- welcome
- pleasing
- likeable
- likable
- delectable
- dreamy
- heavenly
- unobjectionable
- felicitous
- luscious
- inviting
- darling
- savory
- unexceptionable
- savoury
- blessed
- dulcet
- blest
- wholesome
- healthful
- healthy
- salutary
- salubrious
- delightsome
- restorative
- red-spotted purple
- red-stalk aster
- red-stem filaree
- red-stemmed filaree
- red-streaked spider
- red-tailed hawk
- red-tailed tropic bird
- red-tapeism
- red-tapism
- red-throated diver
- red-throated loon
- red-toothed shrew
- red-wat
- red-wat-shod
- red-winged blackbird
- redact
- redacted
- redacting
- redaction
- redactional
- redactions
- redactor
- redactors
- redacts
- redamaged