repellent

12 synonyms and 3 antonyms for repellent, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adjective — Causing strong dislike or disgust.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

resistant disgusting foul

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

repellant rebarbative revolting disgustful distasteful loathly loathsome repelling skanky

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adjective

Causing strong dislike or disgust.

“He found the whole idea morally repellent.”

repellant resistant rebarbative disgusting revolting disgustful foul distasteful loathly loathsome repelling skanky

Opposites

pleasant

2. adjective

Able to keep something (water, insects) away.

“The jacket is made from a water-repellent fabric.”

Opposites

absorptive absorbent

3. noun

A substance made to keep insects or other pests away.

“Don't forget the mosquito repellent for the camping trip.”

repellant

How to use repellent

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

insect repellent water-repellent morally repellent

Etymology

From Latin repellens, present participle of repellere, "to drive back." Formed from repel plus -ent.

Full origin of repellent →

Frequently asked questions

What does “repellent” mean?

The word “repellent” means causing strong dislike or disgust. In plain terms, something that pushes things away — either literally (bugs, water) or emotionally (disgust).

How do you pronounce “repellent”?

“Repellent” is pronounced ruh-PEH-luhnt (/ɹəˈpɛlənt/ in IPA).

How do you use “repellent” in a sentence?

Here is “repellent” used in a sentence: “He found the whole idea morally repellent.”

What part of speech is “repellent”?

Depending on how it is used, “repellent” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “repellent” come from?

The word “repellent” comes from Latin. From Latin repellens, present participle of repellere, "to drive back." Formed from repel plus -ent.

How many meanings does “repellent” have?

“Repellent” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: causing strong dislike or disgust.

People also searched

pleasant disgusting foul resistant absorptive absorbent revolting skanky loathsome distasteful repelling

Nearby words

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