adj
Uncommon
repulsive
rih-PUHL-sihv
Repulsive (adj) means causing strong disgust; extremely unpleasant. Example: “The horror film featured some genuinely repulsive creatures.”
adj
1
Causing strong disgust; extremely unpleasant.
"The horror film featured some genuinely repulsive creatures."
"His table manners were repulsive."
2
Capable of pushing something away, as a physical force.
"The magnets exert a repulsive force on each other."
How to use repulsive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDisgusting, or physically pushing things apart.
Common pairings
find someone repulsive
repulsive smell
repulsive force
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more repulsive
- Superlative
- most repulsive
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The horror film featured some genuinely _____ creatures.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin repulsivus, built on Latin repulsus, "driven back."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for repulsive
See all rhymes for repulsive →Frequently asked questions
What does “repulsive” mean?
The word “repulsive” means causing strong disgust; extremely unpleasant. In plain terms, disgusting, or physically pushing things apart.
How do you pronounce “repulsive”?
“Repulsive” is pronounced rih-PUHL-sihv (/ɹɪˈpʌlsɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “repulsive” in a sentence?
Here is “repulsive” used in a sentence: “The horror film featured some genuinely repulsive creatures.”
What is another word for “repulsive”?
Words with a similar meaning to “repulsive” include repellent, disgusting, vile and inappropriate.
What is the opposite of “repulsive”?
The opposite of “repulsive” — its antonyms — is attractive.
What part of speech is “repulsive”?
“Repulsive” is an adjective.
Where does the word “repulsive” come from?
The word “repulsive” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin repulsivus, built on Latin repulsus, "driven back.".
Is “repulsive” a common word?
“Repulsive” is an uncommon word in modern English.
