distasteful
adjective
dis·taste·ful
(ˌ)dis-ˈtāst-fəl 
1
a
: objectionable because offensive to one's personal taste : unpleasant, disagreeable
found the job distasteful
a shady, distasteful character
b
: objectionable because in poor taste, inappropriate, or unethical
a harmless stroking … but it seems oddly distasteful in retrospect—
Richard Sandza et al.
Richard Sandza et al.2
: unpleasant to the taste
distasteful unripe fruit
distastefulness
noun
Examples of distasteful in a Sentence
The work was distasteful, but it was the best I could find at the time.
It was a distasteful subject to him.
Recent Examples on the Web
His style was distasteful and inappropriate, to be sure, but the choice to protect a teammate who is so routinely mocked by fans and opposing players alike (see below) was noticed and appreciated within the Timberwolves’ locker room.
—Sam Amick, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
To be an effective crisis manager, the central bank must cooperate with the government while not shying away from interventions that politicians regard as distasteful.
—Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
The identity of his tormentors and their reason for targeting him remains a mystery until the final minutes, which turn the episode into one sick, distasteful joke.
—Charles Bramesco, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025
That principle is invoked by law firm partners to justify high profit but distasteful representations.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distasteful
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Sam Amick, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
To be an effective crisis manager, the central bank must cooperate with the government while not shying away from interventions that politicians regard as distasteful.
—Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
The identity of his tormentors and their reason for targeting him remains a mystery until the final minutes, which turn the episode into one sick, distasteful joke.
—Charles Bramesco, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025
That principle is invoked by law firm partners to justify high profit but distasteful representations.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distasteful
Cite this Entry
“Distasteful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distasteful. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
distasteful
adjective
dis·taste·ful
dis-ˈtāst-fəl
: causing displeasure : unpleasant, disagreeable
distastefulness
noun
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