Repulsion: meaning, definitions and examples

Typically used in scientific contexts to describe a force that pushes objects away. In everyday language, it can describe a strong feeling of being pushed away by something unpleasant.

• The repulsion between the magnets was strong.
• She felt a deep repulsion at the sight of the spoiled food.

Refers to a strong feeling of dislike or nausea caused by something offensive. It is commonly used in everyday language.

• The smell of the garbage filled him with disgust.
• She couldn't hide her disgust at the inappropriate joke.

Describes a strong dislike or unwillingness to do something. It does not necessarily carry as intense a negative connotation as others on the list.

• She has a strong aversion to spiders.
• He always had an aversion to long meetings.

Describes a sudden and intense feeling of disgust or loathing. It often implies a physical reaction.

• She felt a sense of revulsion when she saw the moldy food.
• The news of the scandal was met with widespread revulsion.

Used to express a very strong feeling of hatred or loathing for something, often on moral grounds. It has a formal tone.

• He spoke of his abhorrence of violence.
• The society maintained a sense of abhorrence towards corruption.

Repulsion is often used to describe a strong feeling of disgust or aversion towards something, whether physical or emotional. It can also be used in scientific contexts, such as physics, to describe a force pushing objects away from each other.

• She felt an immediate repulsion when she saw the rotten food.
• In physics, magnetic repulsion occurs when the north poles of two magnets are brought close to each other.

Repellence is used mostly to describe the quality of being able to drive something away. It is often used in material science, like describing a fabric’s resistance to water.

• The repellence of this fabric makes it ideal for outdoor use.
• This spray creates a skin repellence to mosquitoes.

Repellency is nearly synonymous with repellence and is often used in similar contexts. It emphasizes the ability of a surface or material to repel liquids or other substances.

• The repellency of the coat kept him dry during the rainstorm.
• This coating improves the repellency of your shoes against dirt and water.