repulsive
adjective
re·pul·sive ri-ˈpəl-siv 
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
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
- repugnant
- revolting
- scandalous
- shocking
- sickening
- ugly
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 And none are more uniquely disreputable than the McPoyle clan, the perpetually clammy, milk-guzzling, creepily incestuous former schoolmates led by the exquisitely repulsive Liam (Jimmi Simpson) and Ryan (Nate Mooney). 
Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 3 Sep. 2022 But the same repulsive scents are magnets for skunks, raccoons, rats, flies, and a lot of other wild critters, including a few neighborhood pets. Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Aug. 2022 This type of behavior is not only unacceptable, but also repulsive. Mike Mavredakis, Hartford Courant, 17 Aug. 2022 Although these signature pieces are alluring, some of Kapoor’s work is alarming, even repulsive. Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2022 For example, students talked about how their knowledge gained in their chemistry course regarding interactions – that is, attractive and repulsive forces – was important to understand how and why the chemical species that make up DNA come together. Zahilyn D. Roche Allred, The Conversation, 12 July 2022 Western governments have put us in this repulsive position, with eyes open. Andrew C. Mccarthy, National Review, 28 Feb. 2022 This may have been Streep’s most perverse film role, indulging a middle-aged woman’s psychotic delusions while also undergoing the most repulsive humiliation in any film this millennium. Armond White, National Review, 6 July 2022 To me, these details were both intriguing and repulsive. Okwiri Oduor, Harper’s Magazine , 22 June 2022 See More
Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 3 Sep. 2022 But the same repulsive scents are magnets for skunks, raccoons, rats, flies, and a lot of other wild critters, including a few neighborhood pets. Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Aug. 2022 This type of behavior is not only unacceptable, but also repulsive. Mike Mavredakis, Hartford Courant, 17 Aug. 2022 Although these signature pieces are alluring, some of Kapoor’s work is alarming, even repulsive. Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2022 For example, students talked about how their knowledge gained in their chemistry course regarding interactions – that is, attractive and repulsive forces – was important to understand how and why the chemical species that make up DNA come together. Zahilyn D. Roche Allred, The Conversation, 12 July 2022 Western governments have put us in this repulsive position, with eyes open. Andrew C. Mccarthy, National Review, 28 Feb. 2022 This may have been Streep’s most perverse film role, indulging a middle-aged woman’s psychotic delusions while also undergoing the most repulsive humiliation in any film this millennium. Armond White, National Review, 6 July 2022 To me, these details were both intriguing and repulsive. Okwiri Oduor, Harper’s Magazine , 22 June 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
repulsive
adjective
re·pul·sive ri-ˈpəl-siv
: causing disgust
a repulsive sight
repulsiveness
noun
as in dreadfulness
the quality of inspiring intense dread or dismay horror films that seem to be trying to outdo one another in the repulsiveness of their monsters Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- dreadfulness
- horror
- awfulness
- ghastliness
- hideousness
- gruesomeness
- atrocity
- horridness
- frightfulness
- fearfulness
- grisliness
- badness
- vileness
- atrociousness
- sinfulness
- loathsomeness
- foulness
- heinousness
- agony
- evil
- viciousness
- evilness
- baseness
- invidiousness
- immorality
- anguish
- wickedness
- misery
- depravity
- torture
- hatefulness
- monstrosity
- ghoulishness
- creepiness
- ungodliness
- scariness
- ghostliness
- fearsomeness
- eeriness
- iniquity
- despicableness
- torment
- hellishness
- cursedness
- depravedness
- diabolicalness
- detestableness
- execrableness
- iniquitousness
- deplorableness
- accursedness
- reprehensibleness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pleasantness
- agreeableness
- attractiveness
- attraction
- delightfulness
- desirability
- desirableness
- appeal
- pleasurableness
- allurement