repulsion

noun

re·​pul·​sion ri-ˈpəl-shən 

1

: the action of repulsing : the state of being repulsed

2

: the action of repelling : the force with which bodies, particles, or like forces repel one another

3

: a feeling of aversion : repugnance

Synonyms

• aversion
• disgust
• distaste
• horror
• loathing
• nausea
• repugnance
• revulsion

Examples of repulsion in a Sentence

I read about what happened with a feeling of shock and repulsion.

She felt a repulsion for politics.

a repulsion between the particles

their successful repulsion of the attack

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite its promise, fusion requires extremely high temperatures and pressure to overcome the natural repulsion between atomic nuclei, a challenge that has taken decades of research to address. —Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024

For atomic nuclei to fuse, the nuclei must overcome their natural electrostatic repulsion. —IEEE Spectrum, 28 Oct. 2024

The Ukrainian protesters’ primary motives were not nationalist grievances or democratic yearnings but popular repulsion at the unconstrained, arbitrary, and corrupt power of an absolutist sovereign and his retinue. —Serhiy Kudelia, Foreign Affairs, 27 Feb. 2014

These often-intricate performances of attraction and repulsion—in which pincers and antennae play prominent roles—can last hours, and the mating itself as long as 20 hours, at least for one Papua New Guinea species, Tagalina papua. —Tim Vernimmen, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English repulsioun, borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French repulcion, repulsion, borrowed from Medieval Latin repulsiōn, repulsiō "action of driving away or expelling" (Late Latin, "refutation"), derivative, with the suffix of verbal action -tiōn-, -tiō, of Latin repellere "to push away, drive back, fend off " (with -s- from past participle and verbal noun repulsus) — more at repel

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

repulsion

noun

re·​pul·​sion ri-ˈpəl-shən 

1

: the action of repulsing : the state of being repulsed

2

: the force with which bodies, particles, or like forces repel one another

3

: a feeling of great dislike : repugnance

Medical Definition

repulsion

noun

re·​pul·​sion ri-ˈpəl-shən 

: the tendency of some linked genetic characters to be inherited separately because a dominant allele for each character occurs on the same chromosome as a recessive allele of the other compare coupling sense 2