aversion

[ uh-vur-zhuhn, -shuhn ]

noun

1. a strong feeling of dislike, opposition, repugnance, or antipathy (usually followed by to ):

   a strong aversion to snakes and spiders.

   Synonyms: disgust, abhorrence, distaste

   Antonyms: predilection

2. a cause or object of dislike; person or thing that causes antipathy:

   His pet aversion is guests who are always late.

3. Obsolete. the act of averting; a turning away or preventing.

aversion

/ əˈvɜːʃən /

noun

1. usually foll byto or for extreme dislike or disinclination; repugnance
2. a person or thing that arouses this

   he is my pet aversion

Word History and Origins

Origin of aversion¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin āversiōn-, stem of āversiō; equivalent to averse + -ion

Synonym Study

Aversion, antipathy, loathing connote strong dislike or detestation. Aversion is an unreasoning desire to avoid that which displeases, annoys, or offends: an aversion to (or toward ) cats. Antipathy is a distaste, dislike, or disgust toward something: an antipathy toward (or for ) braggarts. Loathing connotes a combination of hatred and disgust, or detestation: a loathing for (or toward ) hypocrisy, a criminal.

Example Sentences

"While our overall results on age were mixed, it's clear that younger people are not particularly fond of abbreviations, though the strength of this aversion may vary by age," Fang said.

From Science Daily

Trump’s other consistent positions were hostility towards China’s influence on the continent and aversion to deploying American soldiers.

From BBC

What I’m referring to is something most news organizations, pundits and every unreformed poll addict hasn't accepted, which is the profound extent to which the public's aversion to facts and information has reorganized our reality.

From Salon

Risk aversion has become an end in itself.

From Los Angeles Times

Foreman and the Wooster Group share an aversion to linearity, psychological realism and didacticism of any kind.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• allergy
• animosity
• antagonism
• antipathy
• dislike
• dissatisfaction
• distaste
• hostility
• loathing
• opposition
• reluctance
• revulsion
• unwillingness