Definition

1. Noun:
   • Intense aversion or disgust: A strong feeling of dislike, distaste, or revulsion.
   • (Physics) The force by which bodies repel one another: A force that tends to push objects apart, especially between like electric charges or magnetic poles.
   • The act of repulsing or repelling an attack: The action of driving back an assault; a successful defensive stand.

Usage and Examples

• Noun (Aversion):
  • She felt a wave of repulsion at the sight of the decaying food.
  • His cruelty filled me with repulsion.
• Noun (Physics):
  • The repulsion between the two positively charged protons is significant.
  • Magnetic repulsion causes the like poles of the magnets to push apart.
• Noun (Defensive Action):
  • The army's repulsion of the invasion was a decisive victory. (This usage is less common in everyday language.)

Advanced Usage

• "Moral repulsion": A feeling of disgust based on ethical or moral grounds.
  • He experienced a deep moral repulsion toward the corrupt practices.
• "Electrostatic repulsion": A specific term in physics for the repulsive force between electric charges of the same sign.
  • The stability of the atom is partly due to the electrostatic repulsion between protons.

Variants and Related Words

• Repulsive (adj): causing intense disgust or aversion; also, relating to a repelling force in physics.
  • The smell was repulsive.
  • They studied the repulsive forces between molecules.
• Repel (v): To drive away, force back, or cause aversion.
  • The army managed to repel the attack.
  • His behavior repels people.
• Repellent (adj/n): Causing disgust; also, a substance that drives insects away.
  • The idea was morally repellent.
  • Apply insect repellent before going into the woods.

Synonyms

• Aversion: A strong dislike or disinclination.
• Disgust: A feeling of revulsion or profound disapproval.
• Revulsion: A sense of disgust and loathing.
• (For Physics) Repelling force: A force that pushes away.

Antonyms

• Attraction: The action or power of evoking interest or drawing objects together.
• Affinity: A spontaneous or natural liking or sympathy.
• (For Physics) Attraction: The force that draws objects together, like gravity or magnetic attraction between opposite poles.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "Feel repulsion toward": To experience a strong feeling of disgust about something or someone.
  • Many people feel an instinctive repulsion toward cruelty to animals.
• "Overcome repulsion": To manage to act despite feelings of disgust.
  • The doctor had to overcome her initial repulsion to treat the severe wound.

Noun

1. the act of repulsing or repelling an attack; a successful defensive stand
2. intense aversion
3. the force by which bodies repel one another