Hello everyone: I'm not sure about the opposite of the word "likeable". My first attempt was "dislikeable," but I see that the word "unlikeable" also exists. Any difference between them? Are they synonyms? Thanks!
There appears to be no real difference in meaning between the two, though, with 11 COCA citations, dislik(e)able is far less common than unlik(e)able (65); both are far less common than lik(e)able (954).
Synonyms then! Thank you..................![]()
I'd say there's a difference. "Dislikeable" means that it is possible to dislike the person. "Unlikeable" means that it's not possible to like the person.
That is, I see the words as [dislike]-able and un-[likeable].
So, a person could be dislikeable, but not unlikeable - as I think most of us are.