dislike

1 of 2

noun

dis·​like (ˌ)dis-ˈlīk How to pronounce dislike (audio)
ˈdis-ˌlīk
plural dislikes
Synonyms of dislikenext
1
: a feeling of aversion or disapproval
2
obsolete : discord
3
: something that a person habitually does not like or enjoy
talking about his likes and dislikes

dislike

2 of 2

verb

disliked; disliking; dislikes

transitive verb

1
: to regard with dislike : disapprove
2
archaic : displease
3
obsolete : to show aversion to
disliker noun

Examples of dislike in a Sentence

Noun 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 Verb I dislike basketball, but I enjoy baseball. Most people dislike it when they are told what to do.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Likes and dislikes are registered immediately and shared with all involved. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 May 2026 Now, Lucila works as a nanny for a Spanish woman who doesn’t much hide her dislike for Latin American workers. Carlos Aguilar, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
Verb
Spiders tend to dislike natural oils including peppermint, citrus, eucalyptus and tea tree. Joan Morris, Mercury News, 25 May 2026 The first five floors were labeled S-A-L-E-M, and because the Grahams disliked alcohol, the hotel had no bar. Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for dislike

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dislike was in 1567

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dislike.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dislike. Accessed 27 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

dislike

1 of 2 noun
dis·​like (ˈ)dis-ˈlīk How to pronounce dislike (audio)
: a strong feeling of not liking or approving

dislike

2 of 2 verb
: to feel dislike for

More from Merriam-Webster on dislike

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster