repugnant

[ri-puhg-nuhnt]

adjective

1. distasteful, objectionable, or offensive.

   a repugnant smell.

2. making opposition; averse.

3. opposed or contrary, as in nature or character.

   Synonyms: hostile, adverse, antagonistic

repugnant

/ rɪˈpʌɡnənt /

adjective

1. repellent to the senses; causing aversion

2. distasteful; offensive; disgusting

3. contradictory; inconsistent or incompatible

Other Word Forms

• repugnance noun
• repugnantly adverb
• unrepugnant adjective
• unrepugnantly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of repugnant¹

1350–1400; Middle English repugnaunt < Middle French < Latin repugnant- (stem of repugnāns, present participle of repugnāre ), equivalent to repugn ( āre ) to repugn + -ant- -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of repugnant¹

C14: from Latin repugnāns resisting; see _repugn

Example Sentences

"The proscription of Palestine Action is repugnant to the tradition of the common law and contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights," he said.

From BBC

Rupert Lowe, the independent MP for Great Yarmouth, said the situation was "morally repugnant" and added: "This is not the Britain I want to live in."

From BBC

New additions Josh Charles and Timothy Simons are also flawlessly cast in roles that, like Serena, are similar to repugnant figures who have been normalized, whether famous or simply common.

From Salon

It was a tactic Clark finds “morally repugnant.”

From Los Angeles Times

Wambaugh’s characters were morally flexible, heroic, repugnant, compassionate, callous, deeply flawed, darkly comical — in a word, real.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abhorrent 
• abominable 
• contradictory 
• disgusting 
• distasteful 
• incompatible 
• objectionable 
• odious 
• revolting 
• vile