as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
a repulsive display of shameless flattery that made the embarrassed actor wrinkle his nose in disgust
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of repulsive
Seven glass bottles had been sitting in storage for many years, and one held precious, though repulsive, evidence of a medicine only mentioned in textual sources.
—
Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 31 Jan. 2026
Only Birdie finds this plan repulsive, knowing this would be the ruin of her beloved niece.
—Oline Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
Or what would be attractive or repulsive to a researcher.
—Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
Researchers gained clues as to why some people taking GLP-1 drugs experience shifts in their favorite foods—suddenly finding meats repulsive or fried foods too heavy.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for repulsive
Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 31 Jan. 2026
Only Birdie finds this plan repulsive, knowing this would be the ruin of her beloved niece.
—Oline Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
Or what would be attractive or repulsive to a researcher.
—Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
Researchers gained clues as to why some people taking GLP-1 drugs experience shifts in their favorite foods—suddenly finding meats repulsive or fried foods too heavy.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for repulsive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repulsive
Adjective
-
The amount of disrespect shown the Broncos is disgusting.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Building Alligator Alcatraz and being proud of treating people inhumanely while at the same time stealing money for his charity is disgusting.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Gavin Newsom loves to brag about his accomplishments as governor — a syndrome that sometimes backfires when reality raises its ugly head.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Stocks are quickly deteriorating, with each of the major averages on pace to post an ugly month of losses as hopes for a quick resolution to the Middle East conflict gives way to fear.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Thanks to Epperson’s goal from the front-left side of the crease in the second OT, the Pioneers avoided a sickening taste of déjà vu.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Every repeat viewing of Abraham's performance reveals some new moment of humiliation — some fresh sickening glimmer of anguish that feels all too familiar.—
Devan Coggan,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The timing is awful, as Rodon was scheduled to make a rehab start with the Yankees' Double-A affiliate.—
Logan Brown,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The Broncos were awful on the ground.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This is going to be a horrible, terrible, no-good, very bad day.—
Nathan Rott,
NPR,
27 Mar. 2026
-
In another case, a 10-year-old girl contracted horrible lesions on 10 percent of her body — mostly on her legs — after contact with giant hogweed.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The noise is hideous, but the pollution is much worse.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
-
But once, my roommate had hung this hideous rack of dusty old spices above the stove.—
Alyse Whitney,
Saveur,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
While his peers aimed to achieve maximum tension by barking about capitalism over jabbing, if not outright obnoxious, guitars, Shaw scrapped layer after layer—distortion pedals, crash cymbals, eventually the drum machine itself—to crystalize his band’s own sound.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
24 Mar. 2026
-
There is Shereen Lani Younes as the gay Iranian indie filmmaker whose movie ends up all over the internet, alongside Saturday Night Live alum Jon Rudnitsky as the platonic ideal of an obnoxious agent and Kumail Nanjiani as his ever-suffering boss.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The exhibition pairs their work together, showing the value of shocking style in a moment of conservatism.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Pastor Stephen Perumalla said the circumstances are shocking.—
Tony Aiello,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repulsive. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
