repulsive

adjective

ri-ˈpəl-siv How to pronounce repulsive (audio)
Definition of repulsivenext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of repulsive These compounds have a strong, pungent odor that many insects, including grubs, find repulsive. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 July 2026 The corpse stink was, at first, slightly too repulsive to unleash on the Field Museum’s unsuspecting visitors, so it was toned down slightly. — Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 11 June 2026 This provision is equally repulsive. — Austin Elias-De Jesus, New Yorker, 3 June 2026 And Mary’s electric, palpably physical pursuit of justice becomes even more crucial in the final act, after a grotesque display of performative mockery toward Māori culture fractures the last remnants of civility present amid one of Cole’s lavish-yet-repulsive gatherings. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for repulsive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repulsive
  1. disgusting
  2. ugly
  3. sickening
  4. awful
  5. horrible
  6. hideous
  7. obnoxious
  8. shocking
Adjective
  • These guys are disgusting over the radio in the heat of battle.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The wealth disparity and how competitive sports enables opportunity hoarding is just disgusting.
    — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of disgusting
Adjective
  • But the core four aren’t the only transplants from Woodsboro, as Ghostface soon rears its ugly head, directly targeting them and whomever else is caught up in their orbit.
    — Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Especially if ugly seasons like last year pile up and the problem continues to snowball.
    — James Mirtle, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of ugly
Adjective
  • Carter’s sickening spree ultimately came to an end after he was arrested by Detective Pete Willis.
    — Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Months later, with vaccination rates still dangerously low, measles broke out, sickening thousands.
    — Ali Swenson, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of sickening
Adjective
  • To Morrison, as well as to the filmmakers, this awful backstory makes something cathartic of his accomplishment.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • So the fact that there was this whole section of gay actors who weren’t allowed to do that is awful.
    — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of awful
Adjective
  • Turkish football is a chaotic, infuriating, sometimes horrible but always entertaining place.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The defense says their client had no control over her fatal actions despite the clear planning of the horrible event.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of horrible
Adjective
  • These flashbacks betray where writer-director-cinematographer-editor Tsukamoto’s filmmaking interests really lie, which is in the gruesome recreation of hideous acts of barbarism and cruelty.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • At this point in the operation, even formerly adorable homes begin to look hideous.
    — Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of hideous
Adjective
  • Whether the actor is improvising or sticking closely to the script by Miles Hubley and Tommy White, Wilson’s talent and experience maintain the charm of a character who practically talks nonstop but in other hands could simply be obnoxious.
    — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Something specific that’s not too obnoxious and out of the box.
    — The Editors, Robb Report, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of obnoxious
Adjective
  • That whole sequence with Troy and Susan at the start of this episode is just … shocking.
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Other films have handled the shocking deaths of romantic leads with more grace — Anne Hathaway riding her bike in front of a certain semi-truck in 2011 comes to mind — even while doing objectively less to ensure that they’re understood.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of shocking

Browse Nearby Words

repulsions
repulsive
repulsiveness
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Cite this Entry

“Repulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repulsive. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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