What does disgusting mean?
Disgusting is an adjective describing something that provokes intense revulsion, most often through the senses of smell or taste, but also through sight, touch, or even moral judgement. Spoiled food, foul odours, unsanitary conditions, and cruel behaviour can all be called disgusting. The word carries strong negative connotation and functions as one of English's most forceful terms for expressing aversion; milder alternatives such as 'unpleasant' exist precisely because 'disgusting' implies a visceral, almost physical reaction rather than mere dislike. It derives from the verb 'disgust', which entered English from French and ultimately from Latin, where the underlying root meant 'to taste' — a fitting origin, since taste remains the sense most closely tied to the word's core meaning. Beyond literal use, disgusting is widely applied figuratively to condemn unethical conduct or offensive attitudes, making it equally at home describing a rotting carcass or an act of betrayal. Its adverb form, disgustingly, extends the same force to verbs and adjectives.
Highly unpleasant to the senses; causing revulsion or loathing.
"He threw away the sandwich after one bite of the disgusting filling."
Often intensified with 'absolutely', 'utterly', or 'totally'.
Morally repugnant or deeply offensive; deserving condemnation.
"Cheating elderly customers out of their savings is a disgusting way to make money."
Figurative extension; common in discussions of ethics and behaviour.
The word 'disgust' literally means 'bad taste' — it comes from Latin roots meaning 'to taste', so calling something disgusting is, etymologically speaking, saying it tastes bad even when it just looks or smells that way.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of disgusting
Disgusting is the present-participle adjective of the verb 'disgust', which entered English from French 'dégoûter' in the late sixteenth century. The French verb derives from Latin 'dis-' (expressing reversal or negation) combined with 'gustare', meaning 'to taste', the same root that gives us 'gusto', 'gustatory', and 'degustation'. Originally the word referred specifically to a distasteful flavour, but over time it broadened to cover all forms of sensory and moral revulsion.
Related word forms
How disgusting is actually used
Disgusting is common in both everyday informal speech and formal writing, though its intensity makes it sound emphatic in formal contexts. In British English it is frequently intensified with 'utterly' or 'absolutely'; American English similarly favours 'totally' or 'completely'. When applied to people rather than things or actions, it can sound like a strong personal insult.
Easily confused with disgusting
Disinterested means impartial or unbiased, whereas disgusting means repulsively unpleasant — the words share only a similar prefix and are otherwise unrelated in meaning.