aversion

noun

aver·​sion ə-ˈvər-zhən How to pronounce aversion (audio)
-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

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 Yet her daughter does show signs of specific anxieties and aversions. Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2024 His wife, Jessica Fischer, doesn’t join him at regular services — not out of an aversion, but because of a lack of habit. Marisa Iati, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 The seminal work of psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky introduced the concept of loss aversion in 1979. Dan Irvine, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Look no further than Cuban’s latest venture for evidence of that aversion to slowing down. Jane Thier, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2024 In some cases of quarterback play, that could signal an aversion to risky throws. Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 19 Jan. 2024 The character also seems to have an aversion to anyone over 40 years old, including his No. 1 henchman and problem-solver Wallace Westwyld, played by Jeremy Irons, who is a geriatric man nearly 30 years his senior and the prime recipient of his aggression. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 12 Jan. 2024 Meanwhile, turning away from nature may reinforce aversion for each other and vice versa. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2023 Others see it as a continuation of the U.S.’s aversion to government regulations. Paolo Confino, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aversion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see averse

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of aversion was in 1585

Dictionary Entries Near aversion

Cite this Entry

“Aversion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aversion. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

aversion

noun
aver·​sion ə-ˈvər-zhən How to pronounce aversion (audio)
1
: a strong dislike
2
: something strongly disliked

Medical Definition

aversion

noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on aversion

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