repugnant

adjective

re·​pug·​nant ri-ˈpəg-nənt 

1

: causing a strong feeling of distaste or aversion

repugnant language

a morally repugnant practice

2

: incompatible, inconsistent

… a seizure with consequences … repugnant to the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution …

—State v. Barcia, 549 A.2d 491 (1988)

3

archaic : hostile

repugnantly adverb

Synonyms of repugnant

• disgusting
• ugly
• sickening
• awful
• horrible
• obnoxious
• hideous
• shocking
• obscene
• offensive
• dreadful

Examples of repugnant in a Sentence

technically speaking, it may not be a violation, but it is certainly repugnant to the spirit of the law

Recent Examples on the Web

But Montgomery also insisted that Billy get a more complex backstory that helped explain his repugnant behavior, especially toward Max and Lucas in the second season. —Eliana Dockterman, Time, 16 Oct. 2025

But Rieff also invokes sickness in another sense, denoting that which is morally repugnant. —Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025

Their answer to having to tolerate difference is whatever means are necessary to stop liberalization, and lamentably, our Bill of Rights and governmental checks on the executive mean that taking a jack hammer to our nation’s foundation is a necessary means to a repugnant end. —Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 14 Sep. 2025

For many people, the idea that consciousness is a set of tricks is offensive or repugnant. —Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, opposed, contradictory, incompatible, from Anglo-French, from Latin repugnant-, repugnans, present participle of repugnare to fight against, from re- + pugnare to fight — more at pungent

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

repugnant

adjective

re·​pug·​nant ri-ˈpəg-nənt 

1

: incompatible sense 1

2

: causing a feeling of dislike or disgust : repulsive

repugnantly adverb

Legal Definition

repugnant

adjective

re·​pug·​nant ri-ˈpəg-nənt 

: characterized by contradiction and irreconcilability

the arbitrator's decision was not repugnant to the Act

—M. A. Kelly