disgusting

adjective

dis·​gust·​ing di-ˈskə-stiŋ 

dis-ˈgə-

also diz-

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

the food was disgusting

a disgusting magazine

a disgusting way to treat people

disgustingly

di-ˈskə-stiŋ-lē 

dis-ˈgə-

also diz-

adverb

Synonyms of disgusting

• ugly
• sickening
• horrible
• awful
• hideous
• shocking
• obnoxious
• obscene
• offensive
• dreadful
• nasty
• unpleasant

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 on the Web

These words then take on guilt by association because of the things we have been socialized to find unpleasant, uncomfortable, or disgusting. —Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026

Your writing is disgusting and your lack of confronting this team front office head on is an enormous act of cowardly proportions. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026

Cronin’s threshold for disgusting developments will challenge audiences who are easily shocked, but his skill at whipping up a crescendo of horrors helps distract from a plot with too little connective thread between the big showstoppers. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026

This was in itself disgusting but also came to represent the city’s problems. —Rachel Sugar, Curbed, 8 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of disgust entry 2

First Known Use

1754, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for disgusting

• adjusting
• distrusting
• encrusting
• entrusting
• busting
• crusting
• dusting
• gusting
• lusting
• rusting
• thrusting
• trusting

Kids Definition

disgusting

adjective

dis·​gust·​ing

dis-ˈgəs-tiŋ

: causing disgust

disgusting behavior

disgustingly adverb