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repulsive

repulsive

54 5.5
Causing strong dislike or disgust, like a very bad smell
  • adjective
  • /rɪˈpʌlsɪv/
: repugnante
  • The smell coming from the garbage was repulsive, making everyone want to leave the room.
  • find repulsive
  • so repulsive
  • even repulsive

The scent of this is so repulsive so repulsive.

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Examples

  • I escaped from his repulsive advances, rode home, and told Robert what he had done.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • God, humans do such repulsive things to their bodies.

  • You could say they find me repulsive, Paul.

  • Oh God he is so repulsive in every way.

  • It's the most repulsive thing on earth.

  • People find you socially repulsive as a consequence.

  • He once described you as a repulsive individual.

  • Indeed, upon addition of these chemicals, a penetrating, repulsive odor filled our flat.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The man strikes Larry as repulsive, and he won't stand in the same checkout line with him.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • We now see for the first time the left half of his face: hideously repulsive, an acid-eaten mutilation of flesh.

    Fiction book (1995)

Synonyms

disgusting
vsrepulsive
538 1.3

Causing a strong feeling of dislike or making you feel sick

is similar but applies to any strong disgust not only senses
gross
vsrepulsive
  • Informal
333 2.3

Very unpleasant and making you feel sick or disgusted

is the more neutral, possibly stronger word used in many contexts
hideous
vsrepulsive
156 5.1

Very ugly and likely to make people feel shocked or disgusted

is about strong disgust but not necessarily about ugliness
horrid
vsrepulsive
47 4.1

A very unpleasant thing that shocks or disgusts you

shares shock value but is used more for gross disgust overall
repugnant
vsrepulsive
35 7.8

Very unpleasant and morally wrong to most people

is broader, applying to moral and physical disgust alike
distasteful
vsrepulsive
34 4.6

Something that makes people feel dislike or disgust

is stronger, implying active disgust rather than mild dislike
unsavory
vsrepulsive
  • US
31 7.2

Something people think is morally wrong or dishonest

focuses on raw disgust without implying moral fault
revolting
vsrepulsive
31 4.9

Very unpleasant and likely to make you feel disgusted

is general disgust but may not always imply avoidance
abominable
vsrepulsive
26 7.2

Very bad or morally wrong so people strongly dislike it

centres on strong dislike or disgust without stressing moral blame
yucky
vsrepulsive
  • Informal
21 6.8

Not pleasant to taste or smell

is the more formal or general word for strong disgust
abhorrent
vsrepulsive
21 7.7

Causing strong dislike or disgust because people see it as morally wrong

can be used morally but also for mere physical disgust
loathsome
vsrepulsive
19 7.7

Causing strong disgust or hatred in people

expresses disgust without necessarily including hatred
repellent
vsrepulsive
10 6.1

Causing strong dislike or disgust

is equally strong but used more generally for physical disgust
detestable
vsrepulsive
9 6.5

Very unpleasant and causing people to feel strong dislike or hate

focuses mainly on causing disgust rather than moral blame
offensive
vsrepulsive
3 5.3

Having a bad smell or taste that bothers you

is more forceful, evoking strong disgust rather than mild offence
repellant
vsrepulsive
1 6.4

Causing strong dislike or disgust

covers the same intense disgust but is more common usage
repelling
vsrepulsive
1 6.9

Making people feel strong dislike or disgust

expresses the same intensity but focuses on reaction rather than cause
rebarbative
vsrepulsive
  • Formal
1 9.9

Causing people to feel unpleasant and want to stay away

is stronger, usually causing active disgust rather than mere dislike
loathly
vsrepulsive
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Very unpleasant and likely to make people feel disgusted

is similar but may be slightly less formal in tone
disgustful
vsrepulsive
1 6.7

Causing a strong feeling of dislike or making people feel sick

is similar but used more broadly for general unpleasantness

Antonyms

323 1.0

Giving a gentle feeling of enjoyment

169 2.0

Something very pleasant that makes you happy

Compounds

repulsive force
  • Specialized
2 6.7

A push that makes things move away from each other

How Disgusting

revolting
31 4.9
repulsive
54 5.5
disgusting
538 1.3
unpleasant
183 1.0

Surface Forms

repulsive positive
repulsiver comparative
repulsivest superlative

Morphology

repulsive = repulse (semi-transparent) = repulse + ive

Although formed from 'repulse' + '-ive', the sense 'causing disgust' is a metaphorical extension from physical repulsion and may not be fully predictable to learners.

Etymology

Repulsive comes from the Latin parts re- 'back' and pellere 'to push', like the word repel. So when something is repulsive in the sense of being very unpleasant, it 'pushes you back' — you feel disgusted and want to move away.