repulsive

adjective

re·​pul·​sive ri-ˈpəl-siv How to pronounce repulsive (audio)
1
: serving or able to repulse
repulsive force
2
: tending to repel or reject : cold, forbidding
3
: arousing aversion or disgust
repulsive crimes
repulsively adverb
repulsiveness noun

Examples of repulsive in a Sentence

Magnets have a repulsive effect on each other. a repulsive display of shameless flattery that made the embarrassed actor wrinkle his nose in disgust
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Body horror in all its repulsive forms crops up everywhere on Severance, because within Branch 501, one’s body is no longer their own — and that’s exactly how Lumon wants it. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2025 Despite such repulsive assertions, Kingsley’s synthesis of scientific and theological thinking also led him to be one of the great Christian socialists of his day, advocating tirelessly for social reform, especially sanitation. Ben Woollard, JSTOR Daily, 29 Jan. 2025 Physicists will use this data to measure the properties of both dark matter as well as dark energy, an equally mysterious repulsive force proposed to explain the accelerating expansion of the universe. Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025 Today, the idea of intentionally dismembering and displaying human body parts can seem shocking, even repulsive. Therese Cory, The Conversation, 28 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for repulsive

Word History

Etymology

Middle English repulsyve "(in medicine) dissipating collected humors," borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French repulsif "repelling, dissipating humors," borrowed from Medieval Latin repulsīvus, from Latin repulsus, past participle of repellere "to push away, drive back, fend off" + -īvus -ive — more at repel

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of repulsive was in 1594

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Repulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repulsive. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

repulsive

adjective
re·​pul·​sive ri-ˈpəl-siv How to pronounce repulsive (audio)
: causing disgust
repulsively adverb
repulsiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on repulsive

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