revulsion

noun

re·​vul·​sion ri-ˈvəl-shən 

1

: a strong pulling or drawing away : withdrawal

2

a

: a sudden or strong reaction or change

b

: a sense of utter distaste or repugnance

revulsive

ri-ˈvəl-siv 

adjective

Synonyms

• disgust
• hatred
• horror

Examples of revulsion in a Sentence

She was struck with revulsion at the sight of the dead animal.

a growing revulsion to war

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump’s revulsion for math that contradicts his narrative. —Chris Brennan, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025

Revelations about how bots could talk to children on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and its Meta AI assistant were met with revulsion. —Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025

In some corners of the internet, this commentary is being shared with curiosity; in others, with revulsion. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025

Reactions to the post ranged from morbid fascination to outright revulsion. —Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin revulsion-, revulsio act of tearing away, from revellere to pluck away, from re- + vellere to pluck — more at vulnerable

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for revulsion

• avulsion
• compulsion
• convulsion
• emulsion
• expulsion
• impulsion
• propulsion
• repulsion
• microemulsion

Kids Definition

revulsion

noun

re·​vul·​sion ri-ˈvəl-shən 

1

: a strong pulling or drawing away : withdrawal

2

a

: a sudden or strong reaction or change

b

: a sense of complete dislike

revulsive

-ˈvəl-siv 

adjective

Medical Definition

revulsion

noun

re·​vul·​sion ri-ˈvəl-shən 

: alleviation of a localized disease by treatment (as with counterirritants) of an adjacent region