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
-
Most residents of the United Arab Emirates are South Asians, most of whom have come not for disgusting luxury but for comfortable, middle-class dignity that would be difficult to obtain in their home countries.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
15 Mar. 2026
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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
Adjective
-
This game started ugly, but the Jayhawks built a 38-18 halftime lead on the back of their defense.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
21 Mar. 2026
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Pushing too much hostility between team members or pushing Anthony too hard to be the peacekeeper could easily create an ugly atmosphere that spoils the vibe.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Every repeat viewing of Abraham's performance reveals some new moment of humiliation — some fresh sickening glimmer of anguish that feels all too familiar.—
Devan Coggan,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
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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
Adjective
-
In the 1970s-1980s, all the agricultural talk in the Mississippi Delta was whether the boll weevil would be terrible or just awful this coming fall.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
-
After a week of awful basketball, Minnesota led the NBA’s reigning champions – and favorites to repeat – by nine in the third quarter Sunday in Oklahoma City.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The point was to reduce the horrible pelvic pain caused by her endometriosis (a condition in which estrogen-reliant endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus).—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Continue reading … JOHN KOUFOS — California’s get-out-of-jail-free card could put children at risk of horrible violence.—
,
FOXNews.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Suddenly the whole thing seemed like a hideous dream.—
Elwyn "Bud" Myers,
Outdoor Life,
11 Mar. 2026
-
One of most hideous images in American poetry, and yet one of the most memorable.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Overpraised for her demented turn as Carmy’s mother in The Bear, Curtis has apparently decided to make a late career of playing hideously obnoxious, loudmouthed narcissists.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
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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
Adjective
-
The season cancellation on March 19 comes after TMZ published a shocking video showing the 2023 violent altercation with Paul, seen yelling, hitting, kicking and throwing furniture at Mortensen while a child is heard crying.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
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Garcia said the shocking allegations became public at a time when many Mexican Americans are seeing immigration arrests ripping families apart, people afraid to leave their homes, immigrants in prolonged detention and some dying in immigration custody.—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repulsive. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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