Repulsive — Re*pul sive ( s?v), a. [Cf. F. r[ e]pulsif.] 1. Serving, or able, to repulse; repellent; as, a repulsive force. [1913 Webster] Repulsive of his might the weapon stood. Pope. [1913 Webster] 2. Cold; forbidding; offensive; as, repulsive manners.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
repulsive — (adj.) 1610s, from Fr. repulsif (14c.), from M.L. repulsivus, from pp. stem of repellere (see REPULSION (Cf. repulsion)). Originally able to repel; the sense of causing disgust is first recorded 1816 … Etymology dictionary
repulsive — repugnant, revolting, *offensive, loathsome Analogous words: repellent, *repugnant, abhorrent, obnoxious Antonyms: alluring, captivating … New Dictionary of Synonyms
repulsive — [adj] very disgusting, offensive abhorrent, abominable, animal*, creepy*, disagreeable, distasteful, forbidding, foul, gross, hateful, hideous, horrid, loathsome, nasty, nauseating, noisome, objectionable, obnoxious, odious, off putting,… … New thesaurus
repulsive — ► ADJECTIVE 1) arousing intense distaste or disgust. 2) Physics of or relating to repulsion between physical objects. DERIVATIVES repulsively adverb repulsiveness noun … English terms dictionary
repulsive — [ri pul′siv] adj. [ML repulsivus] 1. tending to repel 2. causing strong dislike or aversion; disgusting; offensive 3. characterized by, or having the nature of, repulsion repulsively adv. repulsiveness n … English World dictionary
repulsive — [[t]rɪpʌ̱lsɪv[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED If you describe something or someone as repulsive, you mean that they are horrible and disgusting and you want to avoid them. ...repulsive fat white slugs. ...the most repulsive mass murderer America has known.… … English dictionary
repulsive — adj. VERBS ▪ be, look, seem, smell ▪ The very thought seems repulsive. ▪ find sb/sth ADVERB ▪ … Collocations dictionary
repulsive — repulsively, adv. repulsiveness, n. /ri pul siv/, adj. 1. causing repugnance or aversion: a repulsive mask. 2. capable of causing repulsion; serving to repulse: to present enough repulsive force to keep the enemy from daring to attack. 3. tending … Universalium
repulsive — adjective their bathroom was repulsive Syn: revolting, disgusting, abhorrent, repellent, repugnant, offensive, objectionable, vile, foul, nasty, loathsome, sickening, nauseating, hateful, detestable, execrable, abominable, monstrous … Thesaurus of popular words
