repugnant
[ri-puhg-nuh nt]
- distasteful, objectionable, or offensive: a repugnant smell.
- making opposition; averse.
- opposed or contrary, as in nature or character.
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Origin of repugnant
Synonyms
See more synonyms for repugnant on Thesaurus.com3. antagonistic, adverse, hostile.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for repugnant
Contemporary Examples
It is disappointing and, frankly, frightening that Thompson walked away from his repugnant Sea World excursion scot-free.
Governor Andrew Cuomo is even attacking it—this is sweet—as a plan that would create “repugnant inequality” across the state.
If the actual facts are so repugnant to you, then why embellish them?
This struck many observers (yours truly included) as not only absurd but repugnant.
Moreover, taking the life of a sentient being is repugnant, a sin that prevents many devout Buddhists from slaughtering animals.
Historical Examples
She had come to believe almost his theory of the future, since it was not repugnant to her prejudices.
The Secret AgentJoseph Conrad
To me, however, constituted as I am, the idea was most repugnant.
The Captain of the Pole-Star and Other TalesArthur Conan Doyle
Somehow or other, the idea of her marrying anyone was repugnant to me.
Kent Knowles: QuahaugJoseph C. Lincoln
Though the man was repugnant to her, she saluted him cheerfully.
The ManxmanHall Caine
The very thought of going to him for aid, after all that had passed, was repugnant to Ruth.
Mistress WildingRafael Sabatini
repugnant
- repellent to the senses; causing aversion
- distasteful; offensive; disgusting
- contradictory; inconsistent or incompatible
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Word Origin
C14: from Latin repugnāns resisting; see repugn
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for repugnant
adj.
late 14c., "contrary, contradictory," from Old French repugnant "contradictory, opposing" or directly from Latin repugnantem (nominative repugnans), present participle of repugnare "to resist, fight back, oppose; disagree, be incompatible," from re- "back" (see re-) + pugnare "to fight" (see pugnacious). Meaning "distasteful, objectionable" is from 1777.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper