What does disgusted mean?
"Disgusted" is an adjective describing the powerful feeling of revulsion or strong disapproval that arises when someone encounters something offensive, unclean, dishonest, or morally objectionable. A person might feel disgusted by spoiled food, cruel behavior, political corruption, or an insulting remark — the emotion spans both physical aversion and ethical outrage. It is typically used predicatively ("she was disgusted by the news") or attributively ("a disgusted expression"), and it commonly pairs with the prepositions "with," "by," or "at." The word derives from "disgust," which entered English in the late sixteenth century from Latin roots meaning "bad taste" — reflecting how the emotion was originally tied to the body's rejection of foul flavors before broadening into a term for moral and emotional rejection. Stronger than mere annoyance or disappointment, being disgusted signals that something has violated one's standards so thoroughly that rejection feels instinctive. Its intensity makes it a vivid, expressive choice when milder words like "upset" or "annoyed" fall short.
Feeling a strong sense of dislike, distaste, or revulsion toward something offensive, unpleasant, or morally wrong.
"Many readers were disgusted by the paper's decision to publish the photographs."
Usually followed by "with," "by," or "at" to introduce the cause of the feeling.
Past tense and past participle of "disgust": to cause someone to feel strong dislike or revulsion.
"The conditions in the factory disgusted even the veteran inspectors."
As a verb form, it typically appears in passive constructions ("was disgusted") more often than active ones.
The word "disgust" literally means "bad taste" — from Latin gustus, meaning taste — because the emotion was first named for the physical reaction of a foul flavor in the mouth.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of disgusted
"Disgusted" is the past participle of "disgust," which entered English in the late sixteenth century, likely influenced by Middle French "desgouster" ("to have a distaste for"), formed from the prefix "dis-" and Latin "gustus" meaning "taste." The original sense was closely tied to the literal experience of an unpleasant taste, before extending to emotional and moral revulsion. Other English words sharing the Latin root include "gusto," "gustatory," and "degustation."
Related word forms
How disgusted is actually used
Commonly used with the prepositions "with," "by," or "at," with little difference in meaning among them. The word carries a strong negative connotation and often implies moral judgment rather than mere physical distaste; for purely sensory unpleasantness, "grossed out" or "repulsed" may be more natural in informal speech.
Easily confused with disgusted
"Disgusting" describes the thing that causes revulsion ("the smell is disgusting"), while "disgusted" describes the person feeling it ("I am disgusted").