as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
a repulsive display of shameless flattery that made the embarrassed actor wrinkle his nose in disgust
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of repulsive
Only Birdie finds this plan repulsive, knowing this would be the ruin of her beloved niece.
—
Oline Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
Or what would be attractive or repulsive to a researcher.
—Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
Researchers gained clues as to why some people taking GLP-1 drugs experience shifts in their favorite foods—suddenly finding meats repulsive or fried foods too heavy.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 23 Dec. 2025
In April 2024, a map of the cosmos released by the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) hinted that dark energy, the repulsive agent that’s driving the expansion of space, has been weakening over time.
—Quanta Magazine, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for repulsive
Oline Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
Or what would be attractive or repulsive to a researcher.
—Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
Researchers gained clues as to why some people taking GLP-1 drugs experience shifts in their favorite foods—suddenly finding meats repulsive or fried foods too heavy.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 23 Dec. 2025
In April 2024, a map of the cosmos released by the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) hinted that dark energy, the repulsive agent that’s driving the expansion of space, has been weakening over time.
—Quanta Magazine, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for repulsive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repulsive
Adjective
-
On the phone, Miranda admits she’s known for a week, but agrees that what Shinia did was disgusting.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2026
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The litter box was still disgusting.—
Jennifer Wolfgram,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Anaheim Ducks’ captain took out the left leg of Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews with a knee-on-knee hit during the second period Thursday night, one of the uglier hits of the 2025-26 season.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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But as the film quietly signals, a society’s obscenities are not aberrations, only parts of an ugly chapter in a long history.—
Michael Snyder,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Meanwhile, in the middle of the nation’s public transit capital, the same engineers want to expand the shadow of the Cross Bronx, using maintenance and safety standards as convenient covers while further dividing and sickening communities.—
Gustavo Rivera,
New York Daily News,
10 Mar. 2026
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Nothing feels worse than the sickening realization that your good intentions harmed the beautiful birds in your yard.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Both teams were mostly awful on offense in the first half.—
Greg Beacham,
Twin Cities,
11 Mar. 2026
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Make no mistake about it, Smith was awful last year with the Raiders.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Arsenal, like Chelsea and City, have that horrible Wednesday-Saturday-Tuesday schedule to contend with.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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At this point, however, this news is neither insignificant nor horrible.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Suddenly the whole thing seemed like a hideous dream.—
Elwyn "Bud" Myers,
Outdoor Life,
11 Mar. 2026
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One of most hideous images in American poetry, and yet one of the most memorable.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Because the motor is electric and the foil does most of the work, the noise, the churn, the fumes – the whole obnoxious package that defines traditional personal watercraft – are largely gone.—
Omar Kardoudi
March 11,
New Atlas,
11 Mar. 2026
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But there was the Transformers actor, with his tattoos and pirate beard, behaving like the obnoxious guy at the bar who spoils everybody else’s night, getting into a fight, then continuing to party the next day after his high-profile arrest.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Given how well Queta has played this season, that at-the-rim scoring binge was impressive, but not shocking.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
15 Mar. 2026
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Pasquantino piloted his team to the biggest win in Italian baseball history inside the same ballpark with their shocking 8-6 victory over Team USA on Tuesday.—
Maria Torres,
New York Times,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repulsive. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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