1
as in unpalatable
disagreeable or disgusting to the sense of taste
cod-liver oil is so distasteful that it's worse than anything it cures
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses
concerned mothers who find some recent musical trends distasteful
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
the distasteful nature of his job as a bill collector
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distasteful
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
The British, having escaped German occupation, could still indulge in military pomp; elsewhere in Western Europe, martial pride and overt patriotism were distasteful reminders of a dark past.
—Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for 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
The British, having escaped German occupation, could still indulge in military pomp; elsewhere in Western Europe, martial pride and overt patriotism were distasteful reminders of a dark past.
—Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distasteful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distasteful
Adjective
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Allowing Iran to continue to control the crucial waterway is likely to be highly unpalatable to Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.—
Kyle Orland,
ArsTechnica,
8 Apr. 2026
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Dry fields are also vulnerable to noxious weeds like leafy spurge and toadflax, which are toxic to cattle and unpalatable to native ungulates like deer and pronghorn antelope.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Along the way there are medical emergencies, a drug trip, a private jet to a private Hot Chip concert somewhere mountainous and snowy, some unpleasant business with a dog, heartfelt conversations and existential crises.—
Robert Lloyd,
Boston Herald,
19 Apr. 2026
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The spandex-blend material is ultra-stretchy, and there’s no unpleasant digging or pinching courtesy of the zipper- and button-free design.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This was in itself disgusting but also came to represent the city’s problems.—
Rachel Sugar,
Curbed,
8 Apr. 2026
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Living under an openly misogynistic president may have felt freakish in 2017, but by his second term, bigotry became yet another disgusting norm.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The administration has asked for an astonishing $200 billion to fund a war that the president also sporadically claims is over, giving legislators an unappetizing choice between funding a quagmire or else walking away and leaving a mess behind.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
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Reaching for your leftover guacamole and discovering it’s turned an unappetizing shade of brown after a day in the fridge.—
Olivia Tarantino,
Martha Stewart,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Usually a team of elegant offense, Michigan instead clanked 13 triples off the rim and relied on its inside defensive ferocity to win a game nearly as aesthetically unpleasing as UConn’s 53-41 win over Butler in 2011.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2026
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Rosemary makes one of the best companion plants for apple trees because of its strong scent that's unpleasing to critters looking to snack on a juicy red apple.—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
An ugly first period added to the initial grimness.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
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Their pricey homegrown core — Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs — combined to go 13-of-42 from the field and an ugly 1-of-13 from deep.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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On that horrible day, Dad was outside his vehicle supervising a ditch cleaning operation when a driver ignored traffic control devices, drove through a closed lane, and struck him, pinning him between two vehicles.—
Allysson Bornt,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
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And every family has that annoying uncle that makes horrible jokes or one situation after another.—
Lexi Lane,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Even in the harshest descriptions of the violence and almost unbelievably cruel twists of fate that Yarris endured (the DNA testing keeps getting accidentally mucked up), Brody lends him a vital indomitable spark.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2026
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When the camera's weren't rolling, McCracken says, Couric gave some harsh advice.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distasteful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distasteful. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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