Definition of repulsive adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

repulsive

adjective

/rɪˈpʌlsɪv/

causing a feeling of strong dislike; very unpleasant synonym disgusting
- a repulsive sight/smell/habit
- What a repulsive man!
Synonyms disgusting
disgustingfoul ▪ revolting ▪ repulsive ▪ offensive ▪ grossThese words all describe something, especially a smell, taste or habit, that is extremely unpleasant and often makes you feel slightly ill.
disgusting extremely unpleasant and making you feel slightly ill:
What a disgusting smell!
foul dirty, and tasting or smelling bad:
She could smell his foul breath.
revolting extremely unpleasant and making you feel slightly ill:
The stew looked revolting.
disgusting or revolting?Both of these words are used to describe things that smell and taste unpleasant, unpleasant personal habits and people who have them. There is no real difference in meaning, but disgusting is more frequent, especially in spoken English.repulsive (rather formal) extremely unpleasant in a way that offends you or makes you feel slightly ill. Repulsive usually describes people, their behaviour or habits, which you may find offensive for physical or moral reasons.offensive (formal) (especially of smells) extremely unpleasant.gross (informal) (of a smell, taste or personal habit) extremely unpleasant.Patterns
- disgusting/repulsive/offensive to somebody
- to find somebody/something disgusting/revolting/repulsive/offensive
- to smell/taste disgusting/foul/gross
- a(n) disgusting/foul/revolting/offensive/gross smell
- a disgusting/revolting/gross habit
- disgusting/offensive/gross behaviour
- a disgusting/revolting/repulsive man/woman/person
Extra Examples
- She found the idea deeply repulsive.
- The very thought seems repulsive.
- He found her habits quite repulsive.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verbs
- be
- look
- seem
- …
adverb
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
preposition
- to
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(physics) causing repulsion (= a force that pushes away)
- repulsive forces

Word Originlate Middle English: from French répulsif, or from , -ive, from repellere ‘drive back’, from re- ‘back’ + pellere ‘to drive’.

See repulsive in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee repulsive in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

Check pronunciation: repulsive

Nearby words

trait

noun

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