repellent

/rɪˈpɛlɪnt/

/rɪˈpɛlɪnt/

Other forms: repellents

How can you tell that something is repellent? You dislike it so much, you want nothing to do with it. If something is repellent, it is highly offensive or disgusting.

To correctly pronounce repellent, accent the second syllable: "ruh-PELL-unt." Being repellent is sometimes a good thing, like when you're camping — your water-repellent tent gets you through a rainstorm and bug repellent keeps you free of itchy bites. The word originates from the Old French word repeller, meaning "to drive away, remove."

Definitions of repellent

1. adjective

   serving or tending to repel
   “I find his obsequiousness repellent”

   synonyms: rebarbative, repellant

   unpleasant

   disagreeable to the senses, to the mind, or feelings
2. adjective

   incapable of absorbing or mixing with
   “a water-repellent fabric”

   synonyms: resistant

   nonabsorbent, nonabsorptive

   not capable of absorbing or soaking up (liquids)
3. noun

   a compound with which fabrics are treated to repel water
   synonyms: repellant

   type of:

   chemical compound, compound

   (chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight
4. noun

   a chemical substance that repels animals
   synonyms: repellant

   types:

   insect repellant, insect repellent, insectifuge

   a chemical substance that repels insects

   type of:

   chemical compound, compound

   (chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight
5. noun

   the power to repel
   “she knew many repellents to his advances”

   synonyms: repellant

   type of:

   power, powerfulness

   possession of controlling influence
6. adjective

   highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust
   “the idea of eating meat is repellent to me”

   synonyms: disgustful, disgusting, distasteful, foul, loathly, loathsome, repellant, repelling, revolting, skanky, wicked, yucky

   offensive

   unpleasant or disgusting especially to the senses