aversion

noun

aver·​sion ə-ˈvər-zhən 

-shən

1

a

: a feeling of repugnance toward something with a desire to avoid or turn from it

regards drunkenness with aversion

b

: a settled dislike : antipathy

expressed an aversion to parties

c

: a tendency to extinguish a behavior or to avoid a thing or situation and especially a usually pleasurable one because it is or has been associated with a noxious stimulus

2

: an object of dislike or aversion

"Of all things inconstancy is my aversion."

—Jane Austen

3

obsolete : the act of turning away

Synonyms

• disgust
• distaste
• horror
• loathing
• nausea
• repugnance
• repulsion
• revulsion

Examples of aversion in a Sentence

Diners who want to reduce the size of their environmental footprint might reassess their aversion to bugs, DeFoliart says. —Janet Raloff, Science News, 7 June 2008

A 16-year Monitor veteran with no previous combat experience, Tyson said she has yet to start reading newspapers on a regular basis because of her aversion to war news and does not like talking about it yet. —Joe Strupp, Editor & Publisher, 21 Apr. 2003

The answer was revealing in many ways. It showed his dark humor, aversion to sentimentality, keen understanding of the role that realism must play in a messy world, and somewhat less keen appreciation for the role that morality plays in sustaining a democracy's foreign policy. —Walter Isaacson, New Republic, 16 Dec. 2002

They regarded war with aversion.

I simply have this ingrained aversion to the sight of bloodshed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Brown may have formed a far better rapport, but even that may not change Crane’s aversion to massive contracts or his wariness of the luxury tax. —Chandler Rome, The Athletic, 14 Dec. 2024

During the interview, GMA’s Robin Roberts asks John about his aversion to his birth name, both personally and as a budding rock & roll star. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 10 Dec. 2024

Things really started to change in the 1920s when designer, architect, writer and activist Poul Henningsen came into the fold and created a three-layer method to assuage his aversion to glare. —Sofia Celeste, WWD, 10 Dec. 2024

For instance, people high in emotionality are less likely to engage in risky activities like excessive drinking or gambling, likely due to their aversion to harm and fear of negative outcomes. —Mark Travers, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see averse

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing aversion

• aversion therapy

Kids Definition

aversion

noun

aver·​sion ə-ˈvər-zhən 

1

: a strong dislike

2

: something strongly disliked

Medical Definition

aversion

noun

aver·​sion ə-ˈvər-zhən, -shən 

1

: a feeling of repugnance toward something with a desire to avoid or turn from it

2

: a tendency to extinguish a behavior or to avoid a thing or situation and especially a usually pleasurable one because it is or has been associated with a noxious stimulus

conditioning of food aversions by drug injection