repellent

American  

[ri-pel-uhnt] / rɪˈpɛl ənt /

Or repellant

adjective

1. causing distaste or aversion; repulsive.

   Synonyms:

   loathsome, distasteful, disgusting, repugnant

2. forcing or driving back.

3. serving or tending to ward off or drive away.

4. impervious or resistant to something (often used in combination).

   moth-repellant.

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noun

1. something that repels, as a substance that keeps away insects.

2. a medicine that serves to prevent or reduce swellings, tumors, etc.

3. any of various durable or nondurable solutions applied to a fabric, garment, surface, etc., to increase its resistance, as to water, moths, mildew, etc.

repellent British  

/ rɪˈpɛlənt /

adjective

1. giving rise to disgust or aversion; distasteful or repulsive

2. driving or forcing away or back; repelling

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noun

1. something, esp a chemical substance, that repels

   insect repellent

2. a substance with which fabrics are treated to increase their resistance to water

Other Word Forms

• interrepellent adjective
• nonrepellent adjective
• repellence noun
• repellently adverb
• self-repellent adjective
• unrepellent adjective
• unrepellently adverb

Etymology

Origin of repellent

1635–45; < Latin repellent- (stem of repellēns ), present participle of repellere to drive back. See repel, -ent

Example Sentences

Trump’s repellent effect on swing voters and non-MAGA Republicans — especially women living in the nation’s abundant suburbs — has been well proved.

From Los Angeles Times

It can be prevented by avoiding tall grass and underbrush, and wearing long pants and tick repellent, in areas where the disease is endemic.

From New York Times

Dr. Poletti said that laboratory tests were being conducted on the meatballs to determine the type of poison that was used, but that the veterinarians on site had suspected slug repellent.

From New York Times

I thought the whole thing was repellent, arrogant, chauvinistic, wrong.

From Washington Post

"They're sort of at the age now where I'm not as repellent to them anymore," she said.

From Fox News