Can "dislike" be used when you disagree with something

Can the word "dislike" be used to disagree with a statement? Sometimes I've seen people write "I dislike that" after someone made a statement, and I don't understand if that means that they agree with the statement but they don't like/hate the fact that the statement is true (i.e. the true meaning of the word), or if it means that they do not agree with the statement. For example: "He looks better on instagram." "I dislike that." I am not a native speaker so I don't know if it's common to say like this, I tried to google it but I couldn't find anything that supported that would be the case.


Solution 1:

Normally, dislike means

to not like; to find someone or something unpleasant, difficult, etc.

and can be used to express that you although you don't like something, you still have to do it or go through it:

  • I dislike the idea of leaving him home alone all evening. (but I have to) (Cambridge)

or that you don't agree with/favour a certain idea, attitude, policy etc. I dislike that is a variant of the collocation I dislike the idea (of doing something):

  • The outlook for those who dislike the idea of purchasing a conventional annuity is good. Times, Sunday Times (2007) (Collins)

I dislike that is definitely a way of saying I disagree. The situations where you would freely choose something you dislike are rare, if any, only constraints will dictate such a choice.

M-W shows a connection between dislike and disapprove (which has disagree as a synonym among others):

dislike [verb]: to regard with dislike : DISAPPROVE

The tendency to answer with I dislike that must be new and not too common, as GNgram finds too few instances of it in comparison with I disagree.