Definition of Repulsive

1. Adjective. Offensive to the mind. "The most repulsive character in recent novels"


2. Adjective. Possessing the ability to repel. "A repulsive force"
Category relationships: Natural Philosophy, Physics
Attributes: Repulsion, Repulsive Force
Antonyms: Attractive
Derivative terms: Repel, Repel, Repulsiveness

3. Adjective. So extremely ugly as to be terrifying. "A repulsive mask"
Exact synonyms: Hideous
Similar to: Ugly
Derivative terms: Hideousness, Repel, Repel, Repulsiveness

Definition of Repulsive

1. a. Serving, or able, to repulse; repellent; as, a repulsive force.

Definition of Repulsive

1. Adjective. tending to rouse aversion or to repulse ¹

2. Adjective. (context: physics) having the capacity to repel ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Repulsive

1. [adj]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Repulsive

repullulation
repullulations
repulp
repulped
repulping
repulps
repulse
repulsed
repulser
repulsers
repulses
repulsing
repulsion
repulsion motor
repulsions
repulsive (current term)
repulsive(a)
repulsive force
repulsively
repulsiveness
repulsivenesses
repulsory
repump
repumped
repumping
repumps
repunctuate
repunctuated
repunctuates
repunctuating

Literary usage of Repulsive

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Elements of the Differential and Integral Calculus by William Smyth (1859)
"Let the body be acted upon by an attracting and repulsive force. Suppose the body placed at A to be acted upon by an attracting force tending to make it ..."

2. Principles of Physics, Or Natural Philosophy: Designed for the Use of by Benjamin Silliman (1865)
"A repulsive action is exerted between the spheroid and the heated surface. ... This adhesion is not only diminished by heat, but a repulsive action is ..."

3. On the Connection of the Physical Sciences by Mary Somerville (1846)
"repulsive Force — Interstices or ... owing to the repulsive principle that maintains them at extremely minute distances from one another. ..."

4. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1918)
"The most repulsive and degrading form of cannibalism is that of eating human flesh as a part, the main part, of the regular diet. The negro tribes along the ..."

5. The Edinburgh Review by Sydney Smith (1869)
"They are very shrewd, plodding, and frugal; but many of them are great scamps, and they are almost all repulsive in their persons and their habits. ..."

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