aversion
/ə'və:ʃn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A strong feeling of dislike, repugnance, or antipathy towards someone or something. It implies an instinctive or deep-seated desire to avoid the object of the feeling. 2. The act of turning away or averting. This meaning is less common in modern usage but relates to the physical act of avoidance.
Usage
The word "aversion" is a formal noun used to describe a powerful feeling of dislike that often leads to avoidance. It is typically followed by the preposition "to" (e.g., an aversion to spiders). It can also be used with "for" or "toward(s)", though "to" is most standard.
Examples
- She has a strong aversion to cigarette smoke and will leave a room if someone lights up.
- His lifelong aversion to conflict made him a poor negotiator.
- Many people feel an instinctive aversion to the taste of bitter foods.
- (Less common) Her sudden aversion of her eyes suggested she had seen something disturbing.
Advanced Usage
- "Aversion therapy": A psychological treatment that aims to eliminate undesirable behavior by associating it with an unpleasant stimulus.
- "Pet aversion": A humorous or informal way to refer to one's particular or strongest dislike.
- My pet aversion is people who chew with their mouths open.
Variants and Related Words
- Averse (adjective): Having a strong feeling of opposition, antipathy, or repugnance. Usually followed by "to".
- He is not averse to taking risks.
- Avert (verb): To turn away or prevent.
- She averted her gaze. He tried to avert a crisis.
Synonyms
- Dislike
- Antipathy
- Distaste
- Repugnance
- Loathing
- Revulsion
Antonyms
- Liking
- Fondness
- Affinity
- Attraction
- Inclination
Idioms and Phrases
- To have/take/conceive/feel an aversion to someone/something: To begin to strongly dislike someone or something.
- He took an immediate aversion to the new policy.
Noun
- the act of turning yourself (or your gaze) away
- averting her gaze meant that she was angry
- a feeling of intense dislike