What does disgustingness mean?
Disgustingness is an abstract noun denoting the quality or degree to which something is disgusting — that is, capable of provoking revulsion, nausea, or strong moral disapproval. Formed from the adjective "disgusting" with the suffix "-ness", it lets speakers treat a visceral reaction as a property that can be measured, ranked, or discussed: one might speak of the disgustingness of a neglected kitchen, a graphic medical scene, or a corrupt political act. The word spans both physical repulsion (rot, filth, foul odors) and figurative distaste (behavior regarded as morally offensive), mirroring the dual sensory-and-moral nature of disgust itself. It is comparatively uncommon, appearing mostly in informal commentary, criticism, and evaluative writing rather than technical prose. Its usefulness lies in allowing gradation — things can differ in their disgustingness — which plain nouns like "disgust" cannot easily express.
nounThe quality or state of being disgusting; the degree to which something provokes strong revulsion or distaste.
- The quality of being disgusting; the extent to which something arouses revulsion or strong distaste.
"The sheer disgustingness of the overflowing bins made the whole street unbearable in summer."
"Reviewers were split on the film, some praising its artistry and others recoiling at its relentless disgustingness."
"He rated each dare by its disgustingness before agreeing to attempt any of them."
Rarely used in the plural; the word is normally treated as uncountable, since it denotes an abstract quality.
"The critics catalogued the film's various disgustingnesses in exhaustive detail."
"Disgustingness" turns a gut reaction into a measurable quality — philosophers studying disgust literally rank experiences by how much of it they provoke.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of disgustingness
Disgustingness derives from "disgusting", the present participle of "disgust", plus the noun-forming suffix "-ness". The verb "disgust" entered English from French "dégoûter", built on the prefix "des-" (from Latin "dis-", expressing reversal or removal) and "goût" (taste), from Latin "gustus". English forms date to around the late sixteenth century, with "disgusting" and its derived abstract noun following thereafter. The word thus belongs to a family of taste-based terms — alongside "gustatory" and "ingest" — reflecting disgust's origins in the sense of taste.
Related word forms
How disgustingness is actually used
An abstract noun formed from the adjective "disgusting"; it is relatively rare compared with "disgust" and tends to appear in informal or evaluative contexts, often when comparing degrees of unpleasantness. It carries an unambiguously negative connotation.
Easily confused with disgustingness
"Disgust" is the feeling of revulsion itself, while "disgustingness" is the quality of a thing that causes that revulsion.