repugnant
Americanadjective
-
distasteful, objectionable, or offensive.
a repugnant smell.
-
making opposition; averse.
-
opposed or contrary, as in nature or character.
- Synonyms:
- hostile, adverse, antagonistic
adjective
-
repellent to the senses; causing aversion
-
distasteful; offensive; disgusting
-
contradictory; inconsistent or incompatible
Other Word Forms
- repugnance noun
- repugnantly adverb
- unrepugnant adjective
- unrepugnantly adverb
Etymology
Origin of repugnant
1350–1400; Middle English repugnaunt < Middle French < Latin repugnant- (stem of repugnāns, present participle of repugnāre ), equivalent to repugn ( āre ) to repugn + -ant- -ant
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.
But he said urgent questions remained for the politician, including why he had "continually denied the repugnant behaviour so many of his schoolmates recall" rather than acknowledging it and "apologising sincerely".
From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026
The courts really do have the power to examine a statute or a permit and say, No, this is repugnant to the constitution and must be set aside.
From Slate • Dec. 20, 2024
The specifics are as repugnant, if not more so.
From Salon • Oct. 2, 2024
“I think people are over it…and to act like anybody has less stakes in this country or is a lesser person because of the choices they made is repugnant to most of us.”
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 4, 2024
But she leapt to a repugnant conclusion about me without considering that my feelings could be genuine.
From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone
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.
