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disagreeably

C2
adverb

Pronunciation

UK

  • /dˌɪsəɡrˈiːəblɪ/

US

  • /dˌɪsəɡrˈiːəbli/

Description

If a room is too hot, it's disagreeably warm. If someone behaves rudely in a quiet library, they are acting disagreeably. Essentially, "disagreeably" describes something that is unpleasant or causes discomfort—not necessarily in the sense of a verbal argument, but in the sense of being irritating or unwelcome. It adds a layer of negativity to whatever it modifies. Think of it as more than just "bad," but actively causing annoyance or unease. A disagreeably loud noise isn't just loud; it's grating and bothersome.

The word hints at something that doesn't quite agree with your sensibilities—a subtle rejection of what is comfortable or pleasant. While you might describe a person's general temperament as "disagreeable," the adverb "disagreeably" focuses on the manner of an action or the intensity of an unpleasant quality, such as harsh weather or a pungent smell.

Examples

  1. 1

    Weather

    By sunset, the air had become disagreeably cold.

  2. 2

    Food

    The soup was disagreeably salty, so nobody asked for seconds.

  3. 3

    Smell

    The room smelled disagreeably of bleach and wet carpet.

  4. 4

    Manner

    He had a disagreeably sarcastic way of answering simple questions.

  5. 5

    Unpleasant surprise

    We were disagreeably surprised by the size of the final bill.

    • Phrase

      disagreeably surprised

      unpleasantly surprised

Forms and spellings

1 form open this card.

Main spelling

  • disagreeablyadverb