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

distasteful jokes/behavior

2

: unpleasant to the taste

distasteful unripe fruit

distastefully

(ˌ)dis-ˈtāst-fə-lē 

adverb

distastefulness noun

Synonyms of distasteful

• unpalatable
• unappetizing
• horrible
• unsavory
• bad
• awful
• nasty
• brackish
• repugnant
• repulsive
• yucky
• obnoxious
• bland
• revolting

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

Because literature is a distillation of our loves and fears, of supposedly beauty and truth, its relationship with Mammon is at least distasteful and at most tragic, but the story of writing’s association itself is certainly an engaging story. —Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026

While the in-arena plan does not include dancers, the promo has polarized the industry, with some arguing that the celebration is distasteful. —Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 5 Mar. 2026

And really not detract from that with a distasteful joke. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026

And really not detract from that with a distasteful joke. —Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 25 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for distasteful

• tasteful
• wasteful

Kids Definition

distasteful

adjective

dis·​taste·​ful dis-ˈtāst-fəl 

: causing displeasure : unpleasant, disagreeable

distastefully

-fə-lē 

adverb

distastefulness noun