disgusted

IPA/dɪsˈɡʌstɪd/
KK[dɪsɡˈʌstəd]IPA/dɪsˈɡʌstɪd/

disgusted — adjective

  • disgustedpositive
  • more disgustedcomparative
  • most disgustedsuperlative

1. experiencing a very strong feeling of dislike, anger, or disapproval toward some

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

experiencing a very strong feeling of dislike, anger, or disapproval toward someone or something that seems wrong, unpleasant, or morally bad to you — for example, being disgusted by a cruel act or by a dirty living space.

Example

The passengers were disgusted by the filthy condition of the train restroom.

passive: be disgusted by + cause

Leila felt disgusted when she saw how the factory treated its workers.

felt + disgusted + when-clause

Common collocations
  • be disgusted at
  • be disgusted by
  • be disgusted with
  • feel disgusted
  • look disgusted
  • deeply disgusted
  • utterly disgusted
  • absolutely disgusted
Synonyms
  • appalled

    stronger focus on shock and horror; often used for discovering something deeply wrong

  • outraged

    adds anger at injustice or unfairness; more active and moral

  • repulsed

    focuses on physical revulsion or strong avoidance; more visceral

  • sickened

    adds a feeling of nausea or emotional upset; often used for cruelty or betrayal

Antonyms
  • delighted

    opposite in intensity and direction — strong pleasure instead of strong dislike

Grammar Patterns

be disgusted at/by/with + noun/pronoun

be disgusted to + infinitive

be disgusted that + clause

Usage Note

Frequently followed by at, by, or with to indicate the cause of the feeling. Also commonly used with a to-infinitive (disgusted to see/find/hear) or a that-clause (disgusted that someone would do such a thing). Distinguish from disgusting: disgusted describes the person who has the feeling, while disgusting describes the thing that causes it.

Common Mistakes

The food on the plate was disgusted.
The food on the plate was disgusting.
Disgusted describes a person's feeling; disgusting describes the thing that causes the feeling.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a strongly negative reaction, but they differ in nuance. Appalled carries the strongest sense of shock and dismay — you are appalled when you discover something unexpectedly horrible, like a charity stealing donations. Outraged adds anger at perceived injustice, so it fits situations where someone has violated a moral or social rule, such as a politician taking bribes. Repulsed leans toward physical revulsion — spoiled meat or a bloody wound might repulse you. Sickened blends disgust with emotional upset, often triggered by betrayal or cruelty, like learning a trusted friend lied to you. To choose the right word, ask yourself: is the main feeling shock (appalled), anger (outraged), physical aversion (repulsed), or emotional nausea (sickened)? For example: 'She was appalled by the accident scene' versus 'She was sickened by her friend's betrayal.'

appalledoutraged ↗repulsedsickened

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • disgusted to hear
  • disgusted to see
  • disgusted to find
  • disgusted that

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word disgusted comes from the verb disgust, which entered English in the late 1500s from French dégoûter, meaning 'to cause strong dislike.' The French word itself comes from Latin disgustus, a combination of dis- ('away, apart') and gustus ('taste'). So the original sense was literally 'bad taste' — something so unpleasant that your sense of taste rejects it. Over time the meaning broadened from physical distaste to moral and emotional revulsion.