Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Causing strong dislike or aversion; disgusting: Something that is repellant is extremely unpleasant and causes a feeling of strong dislike or disgust.
   • Capable of driving away or keeping at a distance: Having the power or property to force something to move away or to prevent something from approaching or adhering.

2. Noun:

   • A substance used to drive something away: A chemical or other agent that is applied to something to keep a specific thing, such as insects, animals, or water, at a distance or off a surface.
   • Something that repels: A thing or quality that has the power to drive something back or keep it away.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • The repellant odor from the dumpster made everyone cross the street. (Causing disgust)
  • The fabric has a repellant coating that causes water to bead up and roll off. (Capable of driving away)

• Noun:

  • I applied insect repellant before our hike in the woods.
  • His arrogance acted as a repellant to potential friends.

Advanced Usage

• Morally repellant: Used to describe an action, idea, or behavior that is so offensive it causes moral disgust.
  • The dictator's cruelty was morally repellant to the international community.

Variants and Related Words

• Repel (verb): To drive or force something back or away; to cause feelings of disgust in someone.
  • The army managed to repel the invasion. His hypocrisy repels me.
• Repellence / Repellency (noun): The ability or power to repel.
  • The repellency of the new coating was tested in the lab.
• Repellently (adverb): In a repellant manner.
  • He behaved repellently at the dinner party.

Synonyms

• Adjective (disgusting): Revolting, disgusting, loathsome, offensive, abhorrent, distasteful.
• Adjective (driving away): Rebarbative, repulsive.
• Noun: Deterrent, discouragement.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Attractive, appealing, pleasing, inviting.
• Noun: Attractant, lure, magnet.

Related Phrases

• Water-repellant (often hyphenated as a compound adjective): Treated so as to resist, but not completely prevent, the penetration of water.
  • He wore a water-repellant jacket for the light rain.
• Insect repellant (often used as an open compound noun): A substance applied to skin or clothing to discourage insects from landing or biting.
  • Don't forget to pack the insect repellant.

Adjective

1. highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust
   • a disgusting smell
   • distasteful language
   • a loathsome disease
   • the idea of eating meat is repellent to me
   • revolting food
   • a wicked stench
2. serving or tending to repel
   • he became rebarbative and prickly and spiteful
   • I find his obsequiousness repellent

Noun

1. the power to repel
   • she knew many repellents to his advances
2. a chemical substance that repels animals
3. a compound with which fabrics are treated to repel water