repugnance
Americannoun
-
the state of being repugnant.
-
strong distaste, aversion, or objection; antipathy.
- Antonyms:
- liking, attraction
-
contradictoriness or inconsistency.
- Synonyms:
- irreconcilability, incompatibility, contrariety
- Antonyms:
- compatibility
Synonym Usage
See dislike.
Etymology
Origin of repugnance
1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French < Latin repugnantia, equivalent to repugn ( āre ) to repugn + -antia -ance
Explanation
Repugnance means strong distaste for something. If you love animals, you probably feel repugnance for people who mistreat their horses. The word repugnance comes from Latin root words, re, meaning back, and pugnare, to fight. When we use repugnance, we don't just mean the feeling of fighting back or resisting, but also a feeling of horror or sickness that causes you to resist in the first place. If something grosses you out, you feel repugnance for it. Repugnance can also express a feeling of moral horror: you probably feel repugnance at photographs of torture.
Vocabulary lists containing repugnance
Emotions on Display
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Frankenstein
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Treasure Island
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Senate, has managed, however unintentionally, to make moral repugnance his chief point of salability.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 10, 2026
Regarding Ashley Madison the repugnance refers to the fallout from the hack, not the site's merchandising of adultery.
From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2023
You regard that history with repugnance, and no doubt your friends would say they share that sentiment.
From New York Times ● Dec. 28, 2021
Drive drooor from the fresh repugnance, thou whole,
From Washington Post ● May 7, 2020
Enough, that I saw my own feelings reflected in Herbert’s face, and not least among them, my repugnance towards the man who had done so much for me.
From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
