repulsive

[ ri-puhl-siv ]

/ rɪˈpʌl sɪv /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR repulsive ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

causing repugnance or aversion: a repulsive mask.

capable of causing repulsion; serving to repulse: to present enough repulsive force to keep the enemy from daring to attack.

tending to drive away or keep at a distance; cold; forbidding: arrogant, repulsive airs to frighten the timid.

Physics. of the nature of or characterized by physical repulsion.

Words nearby repulsive

repugn, repugnance, repugnant, repulse, repulsion, repulsive, repurchase, repurchase agreement, reputable, reputation, repute

Origin of repulsive

First recorded in 1590–1600; repulse + -ive

SYNONYMS FOR repulsive

1 loathsome, disgusting, offensive, distasteful.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR repulsive ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM repulsive

re·pul·sive·ly, adverbre·pul·sive·ness, nounself-re·pul·sive, adjectiveun·re·pul·sive, adjective

un·re·pul·sive·ly, adverbun·re·pul·sive·ness, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH repulsive

repellent repulsive

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for repulsive

He said he had found it repulsive, because to him it had advocated Islamic militancy.
Religion, Race, and a Broadway Hit: The Making of ‘Disgraced’|Tim Teeman|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Oh sure, the Super Bowl and all its macho imitators are commemorations of some repulsive male urge best ignored.
Does Fatherhood Make Men Healthier?|Kent Sepkowitz|June 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They absolutely must boycott this absurd, insane, sickening, repulsive, shameful, and at the same time shame-less circus.
The B Is Back: The Benghazi Hearings Are Bullsh*t|Michael Tomasky|May 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Thomas refused to answer for a while, but now my curiosity was aroused about the repulsive young man below and I pressed him.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show|Robert W. Chambers|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In the film, a young schoolgirl in uniform calls Divine sick and repulsive.
A Tribute to Divine, Hollywood’s Most Infamous Drag Queen|Jimmy So|October 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Peter Cauchon's face, at once striking and repulsive, betokens a mixture of audacity, wile and extraordinary stubbornness.
The Executioner's Knife|Eugne Sue
In the meanwhile a repulsive scene was going on: a hand-to-hand struggle, invectives and screams.
Life of Elie Metchnikoff, 1845-1916|Olga Metchnikoff
How could he bear that any of his former friends should look upon him degraded and repulsive of aspect?
Nevermore|Rolf Boldrewood
This elasticity arises from the repulsive force of its particles, and is always equal to the compressive force which it balances.
Atlantic Monthly Vol. 6, No. 33, July, 1860|Various
And the aspect the said crowd presented to Poppy's overstrained nerves and exalted sensibility was repulsive.
The Far Horizon|Lucas Malet

British Dictionary definitions for repulsive

repulsive

/ (rɪˈpʌlsɪv) /

adjective

causing or occasioning repugnance; loathsome; disgusting or distastefula repulsive sight

tending to repel, esp by coldness and discourtesy

physics concerned with, producing, or being a repulsion

Derived forms of repulsive

repulsively, adverbrepulsiveness, noun

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

repulsive

adjective

Content related to repulsive

Words related to repulsive

Words nearby repulsive

Origin of repulsive

SYNONYMS FOR repulsive

OTHER WORDS FROM repulsive

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH repulsive

Examples from the Web for repulsive

British Dictionary definitions for repulsive

adjective

Derived forms of repulsive