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.

2

: unpleasant to the taste

distasteful unripe fruit

distastefully

(ˌ)dis-ˈtāst-fə-lē 

adverb

distastefulness noun

Synonyms

• brackish
• unappetizing
• unpalatable
• unsavory
• yucky
• yukky

Examples of distasteful in a Sentence

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

After a few days of dwelling on his doubling down on his distasteful sentiments, the SODMG boss is expressing his remorse for his statements and issued an apology on X on Wednesday afternoon (May 15). —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 15 May 2024

His heroes are other colorful if distasteful bosses who have eliminated all opposition to their cult status and who hate the United States. —Dean Minnich, Baltimore Sun, 26 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

distasteful

adjective

dis·​taste·​ful dis-ˈtāst-fəl 

: causing displeasure : unpleasant, disagreeable

distastefully

-fə-lē 

adverb

distastefulness noun