Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

abhor verb [T not continuous ] (-rr-) FORMAL

to hate a way of behaving or thinking, often because you think it is not moral I abhor all forms of racism. abominate verb [T not continuous ] FORMAL to hate something very much He abominates cruelty of all kinds.

allergic adjective
3. HUMOROUS having a strong dislike of something My dad's allergic to pop music.

antipathetic adjective FORMAL

antipathetic attitudes towards smokers

averse adjective [after verb ]

strongly disliking or opposed to Few MPs are averse to the attention of the media. I'm not averse to (= I like) the occasional glass of champagne myself. blench verb [I ] 1. to move back or away suddenly or react physically because something frightens, disgusts (= shocks) or upsets you At the sight of the dead animal, Diana blenched.

contemptuous adjective
expressing contempt a contemptuous manner/laugh He was very contemptuous of 'popular' writers, whom he described as having no talent.

contemptuously adverb
The waiter smiled contemptuously at anyone who didn't know which wine to order.

cordial adjective STRONG

2. FORMAL (of a feeling, especially dislike) strong The two statesmen are known to have a cordial dislike for each other.

cordially adverb FORMAL

You are cordially invited to attend our annual wine-tasting evening. On a personal level, they came to be cordially disliked. deplore verb [T not continuous ] FORMAL to say or think that something is very bad We deeply deplore the loss of life. He said that he deplored all violence. UK The attitude of the Minister is to be deplored (= is very bad). despise verb [T not continuous ] to feel a strong dislike for someone or something because you think they are bad or have no value The two groups despise each other. She despised him for the way he treated her sister. [R] He despised himself for being such a coward. detest verb [T not continuous ] to hate someone or something very much I detest any kind of cruelty. [+ -ing verb] I detest having to get up when it's dark outside. her detested older brother

disdainful adjective
a disdainful expression

disdainfully adverb disdain verb [T ] FORMAL

1. to feel disdain for someone or something The older musicians disdain the new, rock-influenced music.

Cambridge University Press 2008

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

disgusted adjective
feeling extreme dislike or disapproval of something She was disgusted at the way they treated their children. I'm totally disgusted with your behaviour.

disgustedly adverb dislike verb [T ]

to not like someone or something Why do you dislike her so much? [+ -ing verb] I dislike walking and I hate the countryside. hate verb [I or T ] to dislike someone or something very much Kelly hates her teacher. She hated the cold dark days of winter. I hate it when you do that. [+ -ing verb] I have always hated speaking in public. I hate him telling me what do to all the time. [+ to infinitive] I hate (= do not want) to interrupt, but it's time we left. I'd hate (= would not like) you to think I didn't appreciate what you'd done. loathe verb [T ] to hate someone or something From an early age the brothers have loathed each other. "Do you like fish?" "No, I loathe it." [+ -ing verb] I loathe doing housework.

mind verb OPPOSE

1. [I or T] (used in questions and negatives) to be annoyed or worried by something Do you think he'd mind if I borrowed his book? [+ -ing verb] I don't mind having a dog in the house so long as it's clean. INFORMAL I wouldn't mind (= I would like) something to eat, actually. Would you mind turning (= Please would you turn) your radio down a little please? Do you mind if (= May) I put the television on? [+ object + -ing verb] Do you mind me smoking? [+ question word] I don't mind what you wear so long as it's not that awful pink shirt. I'd prefer to stay in tonight, if you don't mind. MAINLY UK "Would you like tea or coffee?" "I don't mind - either."

misanthropic adjective
not liking other people

off preposition NOT LIKING

3. not liking or taking something or someone He's been off his food ever since he had the stomach upset. I used to love wine but I've gone off it (= stopped liking it) recently. She's well enough to be off the medicine now. The doctor says he can come off the tablets. She's been off drugs for a year now.

phobic adjective INFORMAL

having a strong dislike of something Why are so many companies phobic about employing fat people?

-shy suffix
avoiding or not liking the thing mentioned camera-shy workshy go off sb/sth phrasal verb to stop liking or being interested in someone or something I went off beefburgers after I got food poisoning from a take-away.

Cambridge University Press 2008

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

I went off Peter when he said those dreadful things about Clare. put sb off (sth/sb) phrasal verb to make someone dislike something or someone, or to discourage someone from doing something The smell of hospitals always puts me off. You have to work long hours and that puts off a lot of people. His attitude put me right off him. [+ -ing verb] Personally, I didn't enjoy the film, but don't let that put you off going. take against sb phrasal verb UK to begin to dislike someone I think she took against me when I got the promotion she wanted. tire of sth phrasal verb to be annoyed by something turn (sb) against sb/sth phrasal verb to start not to like or agree with someone or something, or to make someone do this After six years of fighting public opinion has turned against the war. The girl's natural father claimed that her stepfather was turning her against him. can't abide sb/sth If you can't abide someone or something, you dislike them very much I can't abide her. He couldn't abide laziness. hold sb/sth in contempt to feel contempt for someone or something have a down on sb UK INFORMAL to dislike someone, often unfairly Why do you have a down on him? I think he seems really nice. wouldn't give sth house-room something that you say about something that you would not like to have in your house Most of the furniture is so ugly, you wouldn't give it house-room. bear sb ill will FORMAL to feel angry with someone because of something they have done I bear him no ill will. can't take sth to not be able to deal with an unpleasant situation I can't take it any more. I'm leaving. not have a civil word to say about sb to not be able to think of anything good to say about someone not be sb's cup of tea If something or someone is not your cup of tea, they are not the type of thing or person that you like Thanks for inviting me, but ballet isn't really my cup of tea. cut no ice with sb to not cause someone to change their opinion or decision I've heard her excuses and they cut no ice with me. can't be doing with sth UK INFORMAL to be unable to bear something, or to have no patience with it I can't be doing with all this shouting and screaming. hate sb's guts INFORMAL to dislike someone very much have it in for sb INFORMAL to be determined to harm or criticize someone She's always had it in for me. not take kindly to sth to not like something After years of being looked after by his mother, he didn't take kindly to being told to cook for himself. the knives are out UK

Cambridge University Press 2008

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition

something you say which means that people are being unpleasant about someone, or trying to harm them The knives are out for the former president. leave sb cold to not make you feel interested or excited I'm afraid opera leaves me cold. How would you like...? INFORMAL said to suggest that someone would not like to be in a situation experienced by someone else I'm not surprised he shouted at you! How would you like to be pushed into a wall? be no/little love lost between If there is no/little love lost between two people, they do not like each other. not go much on sth UK INFORMAL to dislike something I don't go much on white wine. have a problem with sth/sb INFORMAL to find something or someone annoying or offensive I have a real problem with people who use their mobile phones on the train. She can smoke - I don't have a problem with that. not know what sb sees in sb/sth to not understand why someone likes a particular person or thing He's so boring - I don't know what she sees in him. can't stand the sight of sb/sth to hate someone or something Aunt Gloria can't stand the sight of cats. have a thing about sth/sb INFORMAL to like or dislike something or someone very much Ben's got a thing about Triumph motorbikes - he's got three of them. She's got a thing about spiders - she won't touch them. have no time for sb to disapprove of someone and not want to be involved with them I've got no time for people who are always complaining.

Cambridge University Press 2008