aversion
/əˈvɜː.ʃən/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A strong feeling of dislike or refusal toward someone or something. It often means you want to avoid it.
- She has an aversion to spicy food.
- He felt aversion to the idea.
- Many people have an aversion to failure.
Adinary Nuance
Aversion is stronger than simple dislike. It often suggests a deep, lasting feeling that makes you want to avoid something. Compared with hatred, it is less emotional and less extreme. Compared with dislike, it sounds more formal and serious.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- sự ghét bỏ
- Spanish
- aversión
- Chinese
- 反感
- Japanese
- 嫌悪
- Korean
- 혐오
Etymology
Aversion comes from Latin aversio, from avertere meaning 'to turn away'. It entered English through French in the late Middle Ages.
Common phrases
have an aversion toa deep aversiona strong aversionfood aversion
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is aversion formal or informal?
- It is fairly formal and common in writing, exams, and professional English.
- What is the difference between aversion and dislike?
- Aversion is stronger and more serious than dislike. It suggests a strong wish to avoid something.
- Can I say 'an aversion for'?
- Usually, use 'aversion to', not 'aversion for'.
- Is aversion used in business or academic English?
- Yes. It is common in academic writing and formal business contexts.