disagreeable

[ dis-uh-gree-uh-buhl ]

adjective

1. contrary to one's taste or liking; unpleasant; offensive; repugnant.
2. unpleasant in manner or nature; unamiable:

   a thoroughly disagreeable person.

   Synonyms: testy, surly, grouchy, cross

noun

1. an unpleasant or repugnant circumstance, attribute, thing, etc.:

   Bent on being cheerful, he suppressed any mention of the disagreeable in our conversation.

2. disagreeables, the disagreeable aspects of a situation, course of action, etc.:

   The pleasant features of the arrangement far outweigh the disagreeables.

disagreeable

/ ˌdɪsəˈɡriːəbəl /

adjective

1. not likable, esp bad-tempered, offensive, or disobliging

   disagreeable remarks

2. not to one's liking; unpleasant

   a disagreeable task

Derived Forms

• ˌdisaˈgreeableness, noun
• ˌdisaˈgreeably, adverb

Other Words From

• disa·greea·ble·ness disa·greea·bili·ty noun
• disa·greea·bly adverb
• undis·a·greea·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of disagreeable¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Middle French word desagreable. See dis- ¹, agreeable

Example Sentences

Buried in a bland mixed-use skyscraper in the dreary Financial District downtown, an aging, if glamorous, 1929 movie palace with rotten acoustics long served as the San Diego Symphony’s disagreeable home.

From Los Angeles Times

Now the installation draws you in, and after lingering a while the scent begins to seem like a disagreeable odor that sooner or later pushes you out.

From Los Angeles Times

They gave, for the most part, a familiar account of a collegial court whose members know how to disagree without being disagreeable.

From New York Times

Offensive material is disagreeable to the affronted party, but even a wounded critic might concede when such jokes are successful and exciting.

From Salon

At a minimum, public officials need to be able to disagree without being disagreeable.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• annoying
• distasteful
• distressing
• objectionable
• obnoxious
• repulsive
• unpalatable
• unpleasant
• unsavory