as in dislike
a strong feeling of not liking or approving
I had taken an instant disliking to the new neighbors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in hating
to feel dislike for
the two dogs disliked each other the first time they met, and never did become friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in criticizing
to hold an unfavorable opinion of
dislike the governor's heavy-handed way of pushing his agenda
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of disliking
Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 19 Mar. 2026
While discussing current events, and specifically the military conflict with Iran, Reid said that Iranians were justified in disliking the United States due to the 1953 coup in which Iran’s Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh was overthrown, an effort that Great Britain and the United States aided.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 17 Mar. 2026
While the fans are always squabbling, the idea of two teams of professional athletes, not to mention coaches, actually disliking each other has become rarer.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
He is also known for disliking repeats of his shows being played too often – another potential reason why Phoenix Nights remains hard to track down despite its enduring popularity.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Nov. 2025
Trump has been vocal about disliking the NFL’s kickoff rules, which were made permanent this year.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 21 Nov. 2025
Clearly, the Times cannot be punished either for disliking him or for trying to defeat him.
—Stephen L. Carter, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
Clearly, the Times cannot be punished either for disliking him or for trying to defeat him.
—Stephen L. Carter, Twin Cities, 18 Sep. 2025
Dear James, My late mother’s second husband was pretty mean and made no bones about disliking me in his heyday.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
The five-part podcast, The Idiot, is hosted, written and reported by Gessen, who describes disliking their cousin, Allen, growing up, and then being shocked to find out he was arrested for trying to put a hit out on his ex-wife.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 19 Mar. 2026
While discussing current events, and specifically the military conflict with Iran, Reid said that Iranians were justified in disliking the United States due to the 1953 coup in which Iran’s Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh was overthrown, an effort that Great Britain and the United States aided.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 17 Mar. 2026
While the fans are always squabbling, the idea of two teams of professional athletes, not to mention coaches, actually disliking each other has become rarer.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
He is also known for disliking repeats of his shows being played too often – another potential reason why Phoenix Nights remains hard to track down despite its enduring popularity.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Nov. 2025
Trump has been vocal about disliking the NFL’s kickoff rules, which were made permanent this year.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 21 Nov. 2025
Clearly, the Times cannot be punished either for disliking him or for trying to defeat him.
—Stephen L. Carter, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
Clearly, the Times cannot be punished either for disliking him or for trying to defeat him.
—Stephen L. Carter, Twin Cities, 18 Sep. 2025
Dear James, My late mother’s second husband was pretty mean and made no bones about disliking me in his heyday.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disliking
Noun
-
In the interview, which took place before the Colbert episode aired, the two figures talked about traditional folk music, Plant’s dislike of sea shanties, and the differences between English and American music.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The company said the legal principles at stake affect every federal contractor whose views the government dislikes.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Can’t Arabs celebrate their heritage without being accused of hating Jews?—
Laura Einhorn,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
People can relate to hating gym class, disagreements with siblings or a first breakup.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Rory McIlroy was similarly vocal, criticizing the league, Saudi Arabian money, the players, and CEO Norman.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor took a swipe at fellow Justice Brett Kavanaugh at an event on April 7, criticizing her bench-mate for his recent opinion in an immigration case.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Gracie’s discovery is squelched and this character’s value to the play comes in establishing how institutional silence can have an equally pernicious impact on confronting social hatreds.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
7 Apr. 2026
-
There is nothing quite like the theater and hatred that comes when the Penguins and Flyers share a sheet of ice.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Xi’s outreach to Cheng came along with overt swipes at Taiwan’s current government under President Lai Ching-te, who is shunned by Beijing as a dangerous ‘separatist’ for rejecting China’s claim that Taiwan is its territory.—
Janis Mackey Frayer,
NBC news,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The law, criticized by free speech advocates, allows a top official at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to designate a group as a domestic or foreign terrorist organization, with the governor and three other members of the Florida Cabinet approving or rejecting the designation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Also, don’t discount Republican efforts to suppress the vote by denouncing or restricting voting by mail.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
-
That year’s Republican National Convention filled its programming with second-raters (Scott Baio gave a prime-time speech), while Ted Cruz and other speakers refused to endorse Trump onstage; National Review famously published a special issue denouncing him.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disliking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disliking. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
