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dislike

1 of 2

noun

dis·​like (ˌ)dis-ˈlīk How to pronounce dislike (audio)
ˈdis-ˌlīk
plural dislikes
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
And these irrational likes and dislikes make watching sports more fun. Alexis Coe, Rolling Stone, 16 Nov. 2025 While not all cats have an innate dislike of water, many of them do, and this aversion is due to multiple factors. Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
Verb
Dugger gave a cautionary read on the growth of e-bikes, saying any inconvenience added to roadway traffic most likely will be disliked by the public. Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2025 Spelling, the daughter of 90210 producer Aaron Spelling, suggested that lackluster writing led viewers to dislike Carly, which led to her dismissal from the show. Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Nov. 2025 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 28 Nov. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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