Well, it's not distasteful in a manner of speaking (4)
I believe the answer is:
sick
'well' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for sick that I've seen before include "not good" , "Infirm" , "well? Hardly" , "Ill, unwell" , "Ill; nauseous" .)