repulsive

adjective

re·​pul·​sive ri-ˈpəl-siv How to pronounce repulsive (audio)
1
: serving or able to repulse
repulsive force
2
: tending to repel or reject : cold, forbidding
3
: arousing aversion or disgust
repulsive crimes
repulsively adverb
repulsiveness noun

Examples of repulsive in a Sentence

Magnets have a repulsive effect on each other. a repulsive display of shameless flattery that made the embarrassed actor wrinkle his nose in disgust
Recent Examples on the Web But fat, scruffy, with repulsive skin with that foul-mouthed, female persona. Anahid Nersessian, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2024 Early dark energy posits that this extra expansion might have resulted from an additional repulsive force that was pushing against space at the time and has since died out. Marc Kamionkowski, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024 Not being entirely straightforward about one issue does not mean my son is guilty of the repulsive allegations and the grave charges leveled against him. Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2024 Sebastian Stan evokes a repulsive response from viewers This might be Stan’s best role yet. Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 1 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for repulsive 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'repulsive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English repulsyve "(in medicine) dissipating collected humors," borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French repulsif "repelling, dissipating humors," borrowed from Medieval Latin repulsīvus, from Latin repulsus, past participle of repellere "to push away, drive back, fend off" + -īvus -ive — more at repel

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of repulsive was in 1594

Dictionary Entries Near repulsive

Cite this Entry

“Repulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repulsive. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

repulsive

adjective
re·​pul·​sive ri-ˈpəl-siv How to pronounce repulsive (audio)
: causing disgust
repulsively adverb
repulsiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on repulsive

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