aversive

adjective

Meaning

Causing a strong feeling of dislike or a desire to avoid something.

Examples

  • Psychologists use aversive conditioning to help patients break harmful habits by associating them with unpleasant outcomes.
  • The bitter coating on the cable acts as an aversive stimulus to prevent pets from chewing on the wires.

Synonyms: unpleasant, repulsive, objectionable, repugnant