repulsive

adjective

re·​pul·​sive ri-ˈpəl-siv 

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

Synonyms of repulsive

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

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

However, all this may as well go out the window the further the film goes on, and the more Darya’s search for answers about her past plays out in the form of generative digital regurgitations with repulsive textures. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026

The play’s main character, Mack the Knife, is simultaneously attractive and repulsive, and the role works best when neither of those two sides is neglected. — Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026

Sport is full of bad actors expediting the death of discourse with repulsive antics. — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

By their very nature, hydrogen atoms tend to be electrically repulsive to each other. — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 19 July 2026

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

Rhymes for repulsive

• compulsive
• convulsive
• expulsive
• impulsive
• propulsive
• electroconvulsive

Kids Definition

repulsive

adjective

re·​pul·​sive ri-ˈpəl-siv 

: causing disgust

repulsively adverb

repulsiveness noun