repellent
or re·pel·lant
- causing distaste or aversion; repulsive.
- forcing or driving back.
- serving or tending to ward off or drive away.
- impervious or resistant to something (often used in combination): moth-repellant.
- something that repels, as a substance that keeps away insects.
- a medicine that serves to prevent or reduce swellings, tumors, etc.
- any of various durable or nondurable solutions applied to a fabric, garment, surface, etc., to increase its resistance, as to water, moths, mildew, etc.
Origin of repellent
Synonyms for repellent
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for repellent
offensive, foul, awful, hateful, odious, repugnant, rebarbative, loathsome, nauseating, repelling, repulsive, sickeningExamples from the Web for repellent
Contemporary Examples of repellent
This she did (we are not told how), and Beethoven reacted with ‘repellent coldness’.
At first it seems the repellent extends to the men in her life.
Among those matriarchs are countless Italian women who have told me that they find our own sexual politics “repellent” and “sad.”
As much as America finds President Zardari repellent, we in Pakisan do, too.
Historical Examples of repellent
Repellent differences and dislikes separate them from mankind.
Latin America and the United StatesElihu Root
It was a repellent caricature, but could still be very funny.
The Velvet GloveHarry Harrison
He had found the only way, and repellent though it might be to him, he must take it.
Captain BloodRafael Sabatini
There was something fascinating as well as repellent about the woods.
Frank Merriwell's CruiseBurt L. Standish
He grew daily more sullen and repellent, toward Albert noticeably so.
Wayside CourtshipsHamlin Garland
repellent
- giving rise to disgust or aversion; distasteful or repulsive
- driving or forcing away or back; repelling
- something, esp a chemical substance, that repelsinsect repellent
- a substance with which fabrics are treated to increase their resistance to water
Word Origin and History for repellent
also repellant, 1640s, from Latin repellentem (nominative repelens), present participle of repellere (see repel). Originally of medicines (that reduced tumors); meaning "distasteful, disagreeable" first recorded 1797.
also repellant, 1660s, "medicine that reduces tumors," from repellent (adj.). As "substance that repels insects," 1908.
repellent
(rĭ-pĕl′ənt)- Capable of driving off or repelling.
- A substance used to drive off or keep away insects.