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

Examples of repugnant in a Sentence

technically speaking, it may not be a violation, but it is certainly repugnant to the spirit of the law

Recent Examples on the Web

The authorities, however, who were repugnant then and are even more so now, are afraid not of honest people but of those who are not afraid of them. —Alexei Navalny, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2024

Stone’s outlaw bikers are convincing enough to not be cartoonish but aren’t repugnant in their piggishness. —Katie Rife, Vulture, 21 June 2024

Regardless of their views of Trump, Colorado voters need to send a message to Márquez that her attempt to disenfranchise over 550,000 of them was repugnant to the fundamental values of the Republic. —Mike Davis, The Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2024

No matter how repugnant and seemingly unfair such a compromise would be -- for example, that Qaddafi and those close to him are provided with immunity and are allowed to leave Libya -- such a move would add to the NTC's leadership credentials. —Dirk Vandewalle, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2011

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 

1

: incompatible sense 1

2

: causing a feeling of dislike or disgust : repulsive

repugnantly adverb

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