aversion
gb/əvˈɚʒən/ us/əvˈɚʒən/
B2
English
~ 7500
idegenkedés, ellenszenv, viszolygás, mumus, utálat tárgya, kerülési hajlam, averzió, elkerülési tendencia
NOUN
B2
FORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
have an aversion to [something]
She has a strong aversion to crowds and noisy places.
Erősen idegenkedik a tömegektől és a zajos helyektől.
His aversion to flying is so intense that he always travels by train.
Annyira irtózik a repüléstől, hogy mindig vonattal utazik.
I developed an aversion to seafood after getting sick on bad shrimp.
Their cultural aversion to debt makes them very careful with money.
The child showed a clear aversion to taking the medicine.
Learner examples
I have an aversion to spicy food.
Idegenkedem a csípős ételektől.
He has an aversion to dogs after being bitten.
Azóta idegenkedik a kutyáktól, hogy megharapta egy kutya.
She developed an aversion to milk when she was a child.
My brother has an aversion to talking on the phone.
Many people have an aversion to going to the dentist.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "aversion" with the adjective "averse". Use "aversion" as a noun ("have an aversion to noise"), and "averse" as an adjective ("I am averse to noise"). Another common mistake is using the wrong preposition; the natural pattern is "aversion to", not "aversion for" or "aversion of".
Meaning
strong dislike or distaste
Collocations
have an aversion to
|strong aversion
|deep aversion
|develop an aversion
|lifelong aversion
|aversion to [something]
Synonyms
dislike (More general and less intense; can be mild, while aversion suggests a stronger feeling.)
|
distaste (Often suggests that something is unpleasant or offensive in a refined or moral way.)
|
antipathy (Formal; stresses a deep-seated, often long-term feeling against someone or something.)
Antonyms
liking (General positive feeling toward something, the opposite of a strong dislike.)
|
fondness (A warm, gentle liking, contrasting with the strong negative feeling of aversion.)
|
attraction (Being drawn toward something instead of wanting to avoid it.)
Themes
emotions
|psychology
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A very strong feeling that you do not like something and want to stay away from it.
A strong feeling of dislike, opposition, or distaste toward someone or something, often combined with a wish to avoid it.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
2
mumus
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] is [someone]'s aversion
Office small talk is his particular aversion.
Az irodai csevegés az egyik nagy mumusa.
For many children, homework is their chief aversion.
Sok gyereknek a házi feladat a legnagyobb mumusa.
Brussels sprouts have always been my pet aversion.
Early morning meetings are her main aversion.
Public speaking is a common aversion among students.
Learner examples
Public speaking is my main aversion.
A nyilvános beszéd a legnagyobb mumusom.
For my sister, spicy food is a real aversion.
A lánytestvéremnek a csípős étel igazi mumus.
Cleaning the bathroom is my pet aversion.
For him, shopping is a true aversion.
Long phone calls are my particular aversion.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "aversion" only for feelings and not for the thing itself. In this sense, you can say "X is my aversion" to mean that X is something you especially dislike.
Meaning
thing or person strongly disliked
Collocations
pet aversion
|his chief aversion
|my particular aversion
|her main aversion
|lifelong aversion
Synonyms
pet hate (Informal, especially British English; a favorite thing to complain about or dislike.)
|
bugbear (Something that regularly annoys or worries someone; may be less about disgust and more about irritation.)
Antonyms
favorite (A person or thing someone especially likes, opposite of a thing they especially dislike.)
|
preference (Something someone likes or chooses more than others, contrasting with a special dislike.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A person, thing, or activity that someone really does not like.
A person, thing, or activity that someone strongly dislikes and tends to avoid.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
Usage pattern:
[type] aversion
Investors with high risk aversion prefer government bonds to stocks.
A nagyfokú kockázatkerüléssel jellemezhető befektetők az államkötvényeket részesítik előnyben a részvényekkel szemben.
The companys strong aversion to change slowed down innovation.
A vállalat változásoktól való erős idegenkedése lelassította az innovációt.
Loss aversion helps explain why people hold on to losing investments too long.
Cultural aversion to debt can influence national saving rates.
Her aversion to conflict made it hard for her to manage the team effectively.
Learner examples
Their risk aversion makes them choose safe investments.
A kockázatkerülésük miatt biztonságos befektetéseket választanak.
The team has an aversion to change.
A csapat idegenkedik a változástól.
Loss aversion means people hate losing money more than they like winning it.
His aversion to conflict stops him from saying no.
Risk aversion is common after a big financial crisis.
Common mistake:
Learners may treat this only as an emotion. In technical or business contexts, "aversion" often describes a stable preference or decision pattern (as in "risk aversion"), not just a passing feeling.
Meaning
tendency to avoid something
Collocations
risk aversion
|loss aversion
|aversion to risk
|ambiguity aversion
|status quo aversion
|strong aversion to change
Synonyms
reluctance (A general unwillingness; less technical and may be weaker than a systematic aversion.)
|
avoidance (Focuses on the behavior of staying away, while aversion implies an underlying stable preference or dislike.)
Antonyms
willingness (Readiness to do or accept something, the opposite of a tendency to avoid it.)
|
appetite (In phrases like "risk appetite", it means a desire or acceptance of risk, opposite of risk aversion.)
Themes
business
|economics
|psychology
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A general habit or preference to stay away from a certain kind of situation, such as risk or loss.
A stable tendency or preference to avoid a particular type of situation, action, or outcome, such as taking risks or experiencing loss.
Grammar
Dictionary form
aversion
IPA
GB/əvˈɚʒən/
US/əvˈɚʒən/
Syllables & stress
aver - sion (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (sion)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: aversion
- Plural: aversion, aversions
Word family
Expressions
aversion therapy
1/əvˈɚʒən θˈɛɹəpi/
fixed phrase
technical
therapy using unpleasant stimuli
A type of treatment where an unpleasant thing, like a bad smell or mild shock, is used together with an unwanted behavior to make a person stop that behavior.
Examples
- Aversion therapy has been used to treat some addictions, though it is controversial.
- Modern clinics rarely use aversion therapy because of ethical concerns.
food aversion
1/fˈud əvˈɚʒən/
fixed phrase
strong dislike of certain foods
A strong feeling of dislike for a certain food, often so strong that a person refuses to eat it.
Examples
- Many pregnant women experience sudden food aversions.
- His childhood illness led to a long-lasting food aversion to eggs.
have an aversion to
1/hˈæv ən əvˈɚʒən tə/
fixed phrase
formal
strongly dislike and avoid something
To strongly dislike something and usually try to stay away from it.
Examples
- I have an aversion to dairy products after years of stomach problems.
- She has an aversion to conflict and always tries to keep the peace.
- Many people have an aversion to speaking in public.
risk aversion
1/ɹˈɪsk əvˈɚʒən/
fixed phrase
technical
preference for low risk options
A habit or preference of choosing safe options and avoiding risky choices, especially with money.
Examples
- After the crash, investors risk aversion increased sharply.
- The managers risk aversion kept the company from making bold moves.