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

The other kids must have found its inhabitants repulsive or boring, but I was drawn to a cobra that was lying flat out and minding its own business. —John McPhee, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026

This is repulsive, sick behavior. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2026

As matter collapses inside a black hole and densities rise toward the Planck scale, the torsion of spacetime begins to generate a repulsive effect. —Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026

By this time, as an infection from the rusty nail courses through his body, Carroll has become a physically repulsive wreck, an open sore, riddled with gunge and pus. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 20 Mar. 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