revulsion
Americannoun
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a strong feeling of repugnance, distaste, or dislike.
Cruelty fills me with revulsion.
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a sudden and violent change of feeling or response in sentiment, taste, etc.
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the act of drawing something back or away.
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the fact of being so drawn.
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Medicine/Medical. the diminution of morbid action in one part of the body by irritation in another.
noun
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a sudden and unpleasant violent reaction in feeling, esp one of extreme loathing
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the act or an instance of drawing back or recoiling from something
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obsolete the diversion of disease or congestion from one part of the body to another by cupping, counterirritants, etc
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of revulsion
1535–45; < Latin revulsiōn- (stem of revulsiō ) a tearing away, equivalent to revuls ( us ) (past participle of revellere to tear away, equivalent to re- re- + vellere to pluck) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
Revulsion means an intense, violent, sometimes physical dislike of something. People feel revulsion to different things. You may feel revulsion at the thought of seeing a horror movie, but other people can't wait to be scared by the latest zombie or slasher flick. The noun revulsion comes from the Latin word revellere, meaning to pull away or to pull back. So, if you think of pulling back in horror when someone suggests going on a roller coaster after lunch, you'll remember the definition for revulsion is an intense aversion. Synonyms for revulsion include abhorrence, disgust, horror, and repugnance. After getting the stomach flu after eating raspberries, you now feel a revulsion to anything raspberry flavored.
Vocabulary lists containing revulsion
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Tuck Everlasting
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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.
Revulsion at this treatment of religious office led to a reform movement intended to remove the influence of secular lords from the management of the church.
From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023
Revulsion built over the following weeks as a handful of copycats filmed themselves engaged in antics like licking a cup available to other diners.
From New York Times • Mar. 9, 2023
Attraction, Revulsion and Discussion In “Berries and Bulls,” a premiere by the choreographer Tiffany Mills, one side of the stage features towers of stacked paper and books.
From New York Times • Jun. 4, 2013
Revulsion is the more likely, if unintended, result.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 6, 2011
Revulsion, anguish in his heart, with both feet kicking out, he downed his chair, while the shrouding wave of mist closed on his eyes.
From "The Odyssey" by Homer
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.
