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
Jane Austen3
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.
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
My aversion to hype might seem particularly strange, given that staying on top of popular culture used to be my full-time job.
—Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
Among the elite players of the last two decades, Rafael Nadal and Venus Williams stand out for their complete aversion to damaging rackets.
—James Hansen, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
And those negative experiences can reinforce an aversion to water.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2026
Later, McCartney goes to the heart of the matter with an astute assessment of a value bred into him in Liverpool, a working-class aversion to being the boss.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aversion
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Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
Among the elite players of the last two decades, Rafael Nadal and Venus Williams stand out for their complete aversion to damaging rackets.
—James Hansen, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
And those negative experiences can reinforce an aversion to water.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2026
Later, McCartney goes to the heart of the matter with an astute assessment of a value bred into him in Liverpool, a working-class aversion to being the boss.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aversion
Cite this Entry
“Aversion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aversion. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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