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aversion meaning and examples

2025-10-28

Meaning

Aversion means a strong feeling of dislike or unwillingness toward something or someone. It describes a deep emotional resistance, not just mild dislike.

Grammar and Usage

  • Part of speech: noun

  • Typical patterns:

    • have an aversion to + noun/verb-ing — dislike or avoid something strongly
    • develop an aversion to — gradually begin to dislike something
    • feel an aversion toward — express emotional resistance

Examples of structure:

  • She has an aversion to crowds.
  • He developed an aversion to spicy food after getting sick.

Common Phrases

  • have an aversion to something
  • develop an aversion to
  • feel an aversion toward someone/something
  • a natural aversion to

Collocations

  • strong aversion
  • deep aversion
  • moral aversion
  • innate aversion
  • aversion therapy (a medical or psychological treatment aiming to reduce unwanted behavior through association with discomfort)

Examples

  1. She has a strong aversion to smoking.
  2. Many people feel an aversion to insects.
  3. He developed an aversion to traveling after a bad flight experience.
  4. The child’s aversion to vegetables made mealtime difficult.
  5. Her aversion to risk makes her a cautious investor.
  6. Some people have a moral aversion to lying.
  7. The dog showed an aversion to strangers.
  8. Aversion therapy is sometimes used to treat addictions.
  • dislike
  • distaste
  • hatred
  • antipathy
  • repulsion
  • loathing

Antonym

  • affection
  • liking
  • fondness
  • attraction
  • preference