repugnant
adjective
re·pug·nant ri-ˈpəg-nənt 
1
: incompatible, inconsistent
2
archaic : hostile
3
: exciting distaste or aversion
repugnant language
a morally repugnant practice
repugnantly adverb
Synonyms
- abhorrent
- abominable
- appalling
- awful
- disgusting
- distasteful
- dreadful
- evil
- foul
- fulsome
- gross
- hideous
- horrendous
- horrible
- horrid
- loathsome
- nasty
- nauseating
- nauseous
- noisome
- noxious
- obnoxious
- obscene
- odious
- offensive
- rancid
- repellent
- repellant
- repulsive
- revolting
- scandalous
- shocking
- sickening
- ugly
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
technically speaking, it may not be a violation, but it is certainly repugnant to the spirit of the law
Recent Examples on the Web Sarver’s actions over an 18-year period that revealed a man who used his status to intimidate employees and a warped sense of humor to make repugnant jokes and assessments of his staff. 
Gary Washburn, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Sep. 2022 LeMay had replaced Major General Haywood Hansell, a devotee of high-precision bombing who found firebombing cities morally repugnant and militarily unnecessary. Bob Carden, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Sep. 2022 Teenaged Alicent is still hanging out with the king, as her father demands, with absolutely no repugnant ulterior motive, right? Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 29 Aug. 2022 Daniel Webster, who voted for a compromise with slavery repugnant to his Massachusetts constituents, resigned his Senate seat and became secretary of state. Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 19 Aug. 2022 Many of your characters are living their truths and don’t care what anyone thinks, even if their behavior is repugnant. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 17 Aug. 2022 Those comments were repugnant, as is the Washington situation. Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2022 Jaye Ayres-Brown is deliciously repugnant as Kean’s son Charles, portraying entitlement through exaggerated posture, reductive rhetoric and, eventually, an all-out temper tantrum. Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 24 June 2022 Aristotle’s repugnant doctrine has been deployed for vicious purposes, for example in antebellum America. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 21 June 2022 See More
Gary Washburn, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Sep. 2022 LeMay had replaced Major General Haywood Hansell, a devotee of high-precision bombing who found firebombing cities morally repugnant and militarily unnecessary. Bob Carden, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Sep. 2022 Teenaged Alicent is still hanging out with the king, as her father demands, with absolutely no repugnant ulterior motive, right? Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 29 Aug. 2022 Daniel Webster, who voted for a compromise with slavery repugnant to his Massachusetts constituents, resigned his Senate seat and became secretary of state. Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 19 Aug. 2022 Many of your characters are living their truths and don’t care what anyone thinks, even if their behavior is repugnant. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 17 Aug. 2022 Those comments were repugnant, as is the Washington situation. Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2022 Jaye Ayres-Brown is deliciously repugnant as Kean’s son Charles, portraying entitlement through exaggerated posture, reductive rhetoric and, eventually, an all-out temper tantrum. Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 24 June 2022 Aristotle’s repugnant doctrine has been deployed for vicious purposes, for example in antebellum America. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 21 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, opposed, contradictory, incompatible, from Anglo-French, from Latin repugnant-, repugnans, present participle of repugnare to fight against, from re- + pugnare to fight — more at pungent
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
repugnant
adjective
re·pug·nant
ri-ˈpəg-nənt
: causing a strong feeling of dislike or distrust
Legal Definition
repugnant
adjective
re·pug·nant ri-ˈpəg-nənt
: characterized by contradiction and irreconcilability
the arbitrator's decision was not repugnant to the Act M. A. Kelly
M. A. Kellyrepugnant
adjective
1
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment graffiti that featured absolutely repugnant racial slurs Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- disgusting
- sickening
- awful
- ugly
- horrible
- hideous
- shocking
- obscene
- obnoxious
- offensive
- dreadful
- abhorrent
- repulsive
- odious
- unpleasant
- loathsome
- nasty
- revolting
- distasteful
- abominable
- evil
- appalling
- gross
- noxious
- nauseating
- gruesome
- horrid
- scandalous
- repellent
- vile
- horrific
- terrible
- undesirable
- horrendous
- disturbing
- noisome
- nauseous
- foul
- rancid
- objectionable
- hateful
- fulsome
- detestable
- repellant
- disagreeable
- despicable
- contemptible
- monstrous
- horrifying
- unwanted
- heinous
- miserable
- unwholesome
- exceptionable
- grim
- unspeakable
- execrable
- unhealthy
- unsavory
- ghastly
- atrocious
- barbarous
- dislikable
- uncivilized
- unwelcome
- dislikeable
- grisly
- brackish
- macabre
- nightmarish
- sick
- upsetting
- frightful
- unchristian
- unholy
- lurid
- ungodly
- sickly
- hard
- lousy
- off-putting
- distressing
- sickish
- grewsome
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- acceptable
- innocuous
- desirable
- inoffensive
- attractive
- agreeable
- pleasant
- appealing
- delightful
- congenial
- alluring
- delicious
- palatable
- sweet
- gratifying
- enjoyable
- pleasurable
- satisfying
- likable
- welcome
- likeable
- nice
- heavenly
- unobjectionable
- delectable
- pleasing
- felicitous
- dreamy
- unexceptionable
- luscious
- inviting
- darling
- savory
- blessed
- savoury
- dulcet
- blest
- wholesome
- salutary
- healthful
- healthy
- salubrious
- delightsome
- restorative
2
as in inconsistent
not being in agreement or harmony technically speaking, it may not be a violation, but it is certainly repugnant to the spirit of the law Synonyms & Similar Words
- inconsistent
- conflicting
- incongruous
- incompatible
- contrary
- contradictory
- inconsonant
- mutually exclusive
- disagreeing
- discrepant
- inharmonious
- clashing
- at variance
- at odds
- irreconcilable
- discordant
- antithetical
- opposite
- opposing
- antagonistic
- diametric
- antipodal
- diametrical
- antipodean
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- consistent
- congruent
- similar
- agreeing
- consonant
- compatible
- harmonious
- conformable (to)
- concordant
- congruous
- like
- correspondent (with or to)
- akin
- nonconflicting
- accordant