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Synonyms

revolting

American  
[ri-vohl-ting] / rɪˈvoʊl tɪŋ /

adjective

  1. disgusting; repulsive.

    a revolting sight.

  2. rebellious.


revolting British  
/ rɪˈvəʊltɪŋ /

adjective

  1. causing revulsion; nauseating, disgusting, or repulsive

  2. informal unpleasant or nasty

    that dress is revolting

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of revolting

First recorded in 1585–95; revolt + -ing 2

Explanation

Something revolting is disgusting or distasteful; it turns your stomach and can offend your senses. Things that are revolting are physically upsetting, like finding hair in your soup or stepping in dog poop. Eating spoiled food is revolting. Also, revolting things can be less physical. Learning that a friend lied to you is revolting. Corruption in government is revolting. Injustice is revolting. Many people find obscenity revolting. If it offends, disgusts, or upsets you, it's revolting.

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Vocabulary lists containing revolting

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A new series of picture book versions of Dahl's Revolting Rhymes, accompanied by new illustrations by Adam Larkum, will also be released from May.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2024

“Some genres are more elastic than others,” said Scahill, the author of “The Revolting Child in Horror Cinema.”

From New York Times • Nov. 28, 2021

“We’re a nasty group,” they were fond of telling journalists, mooting the unrealised idea for an album with the similarly punk-foreshadowing title We’re Revolting.

From The Guardian • Jun. 5, 2020

Revolting, for Lakers followers, but no longer unexpected.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 27, 2015

Revolting against the voluptuous ataraxia of a certain class of Parisian music, he set up, with violence, a manly, healthy pessimism.

From Jean Christophe: in Paris The Market-Place, Antoinette, the House by Cannan, Gilbert