sgradevole

Sgradevole is an Italian adjective meaning unpleasant or disagreeable. It is used to describe sensory experiences such as odours or tastes (un odore sgradevole, un sapore sgradevole) as well as people, behaviors, or situations that cause discomfort or displeasure. The term can carry a neutral tone when referring to a mild discomfort, or a stronger sense of distaste in more negative contexts.

Etymology and form: The word is formed from gradevole, meaning pleasant, with the negative prefix s-, indicating a reversal of meaning. Like other adjectives in Italian, sgradevole agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies (un odore sgradevole / due odori sgradevoli; una persona sgradevole / due persone sgradevoli).

Usage notes: Sgradevole is commonly used for sensory experiences (smells, tastes, sounds) and also for people or situations that provoke unease or aversion. In some contexts, spiacevole can be a closer synonym, emphasizing a sense of bother or discomfort rather than moral repugnance; antonyms include gradevole and piacevole. The adverbial form is sgradevolmente, as in “un odore sgradevolmente intenso.”

Translations and nuance: In English, sgradevole translates as unpleasant, disagreeable, or distasteful. In Italian discourse, choosing sgradevole over spiacevole or antipatico can convey a slightly stronger or more sensory-based aversion, while antipatico specifically describes a person’s unpleasant character rather than a situation or sensation.