disgusting

adjective dis·gust·ing

Definition of disgusting

:causing a strong feeling of dislike or disinclination :causing disgust

the food was disgusting

a disgusting magazine

a disgusting way to treat people

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disgustingly

play \di-ˈskəs-tiŋ-lē, dis-ˈgəs- also diz-\ adverb

See disgusting defined for English-language learners

See disgusting defined for kids

Examples of disgusting in a Sentence

What a disgusting way to treat people.
when we cleaned the room, we found a disgusting plate of moldy food under the bed

Recent Examples of disgusting from the Web

The Internet is full of totally disgusting—yet strangely entertaining—images of bumps and lumps getting popped and lopped.

— kristin canning, Health.com, "This Man’s Callus-Shaving Video Went Viral. Here's What a Podiatrist Thinks," 15 Aug. 2017
Like waterproof protection from your own disgusting perspiration.

— dayna evans, The Cut, "The Working Woman’s Guide to Commuting by Bike in the Swampy Heat of Summer," 18 July 2017
Mantzoukas played the recurring role of Rafi, a truly wild, deranged and disgusting creation fans couldn’t help but love.

— lindsey bahr, Detroit Free Press, "‘Scumbags’ are ‘The House’ actor’s specialty," 29 June 2017
Rosie O'Donnell is disgusting, both inside and out.

— nina bahadur, SELF, "22 Sexist Things President Donald Trump Has Said About Women," 29 June 2017
Vaughan's videos are potentially even more disgusting than Dr. Pimple Popper's.

— lindsey lanquist, SELF, "Watch This Earwax Extraction Video and Try Not to Look Away," 26 June 2017
Both pieces illuminate Yi’s interest in building rich, sensory universes that undercut common assumptions (for instance, that mold is disgusting, ants are tiny and therefore trifling, and art spaces should not smell of anything).

— jane yong kim, The Atlantic, "Anicka Yi’s Strangely Persuasive World of Smells," 25 June 2017
What was once a homey — if disgusting — therapeutic rite of passage is a multimillion-dollar industry, right alongside parent-baby music classes and tutoring centers.

— amy sohn, New York Times, "The Lice Ladies of Brooklyn Go Corporate," 8 June 2017
Every once in a while, a video comes along that reminds us of nature’s extraordinary — and sometimes disgusting — mystery.

— peter holley, Washington Post, "‘That other snake’s aliiiive!’: A reptile expert explains that epic regurgitating-snake video," 3 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'disgusting.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of disgusting

see ²disgust

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1754

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disgusting Synonyms

Synonyms

abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, offensive, distasteful, dreadful, evil, foul, fulsome, gross, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, loathsome, nasty, nauseating, nauseous, noisome, noxious, obnoxious, obscene, odious, rancid, repellent (also repellant), repugnant, repulsive, revolting, scandalous, shocking, sickening, ugly

Antonyms

innocuous, inoffensive

Near Antonyms

acceptable, agreeable, alluring, appealing, attractive, blessed (also blest), congenial, darling, delectable, delicious, delightful, delightsome, desirable, dreamy, dulcet, enjoyable, felicitous, gratifying, heavenly, inviting, likable (or likeable), luscious, nice, palatable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, savory (also savoury), sweet, welcome; unexceptionable, unobjectionable; healthful, healthy, restorative, salubrious, salutary, wholesome

DISGUSTING Defined for English Language Learners

disgusting

adjective

Definition of disgusting for English Language Learners

: so unpleasant to see, smell, taste, consider, etc., that you feel slightly sick
: so bad, unfair, inappropriate, etc., that you feel annoyed and angry