Revulsion: meaning, definitions and examples

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revulsion

 

[ rɪˈvʌl.ʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

feeling

A strong feeling of disgust or aversion. It is a natural reaction to something extremely unpleasant or offensive.

Synonyms

abhorrence, disgust, repugnance, repulsion.

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Word Description / Examples
revulsion

Typically used to describe a sudden and strong feeling of disgust or dislike, often in reaction to something shocking or horrifying.

  • She felt a wave of revulsion when she saw the bloody scene.
  • His actions caused revulsion among his colleagues.
disgust

A strong feeling of dislike or upset, usually in response to something unpleasant or offensive.

  • The smell of rotten food filled him with disgust.
  • She couldn't hide her disgust at the sight of the dirty bathroom.
repugnance

Usually describes a strong aversion or intense dislike, often due to an emotional or moral reaction.

  • He felt a sense of repugnance when he learned about the crime.
  • There was a visible repugnance in her voice when she talked about the injustice.
abhorrence

Used to describe an intense feeling of hatred or disgust towards something morally wrong or unacceptable.

  • He expressed his abhorrence of racism.
  • Her abhorrence of cruelty to animals was well known.
repulsion

Describes a feeling of strong distaste or aversion, often with a physical or visceral reaction.

  • The sight of the spider filled her with repulsion.
  • His behavior provoked a feeling of repulsion among the guests.

Examples of usage

  • The sight of blood caused a feeling of revulsion in the nurse.
  • She felt a sense of revulsion at the thought of eating insects.
Context #2 | Noun

reaction

An intense and often physical feeling of disgust or repugnance towards something. It can manifest as a strong desire to avoid or reject the source of discomfort.

Synonyms

abhorrence, aversion, disgust, repugnance.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
revulsion

Used to describe a powerful feeling of disgust or repulsion, especially in reaction to something shocking or repellent.

  • She felt a sudden revulsion when she saw the graphic images.
  • His revulsion was clear when he learned about the crime.
disgust

Describes a strong feeling of dislike or repulsion, often to something that is physically unpleasant or morally offensive.

  • The smell of the garbage filled him with disgust.
  • She expressed her disgust at the unfair treatment.
abhorrence

Indicates a strong feeling of hate or repulsion, often towards something considered morally wrong.

  • Her abhorrence for cruelty to animals is well-known.
  • They spoke of their abhorrence of the corrupt practices.
repugnance

Conveys a deep-seated feeling of dislike or opposition, often towards something that contradicts one's values or tastes.

  • He felt a sense of repugnance at the sight of the decay.
  • The idea of lying filled her with repugnance.
aversion

Refers to a strong dislike or unwillingness towards something or someone.

  • He has a strong aversion to spiders.
  • She can't hide her aversion to loud noises.

Examples of usage

  • The revulsion he felt towards the idea of injustice fueled his activism.
  • The revulsion she experienced towards the smell made her leave the room immediately.

Translations

Translations of the word "revulsion" in other languages:

🇵🇹 repulsa

🇮🇳 घृणा

🇩🇪 Abscheu

🇮🇩 kebencian

🇺🇦 відраза

🇵🇱 odraza

🇯🇵 嫌悪 (けんお)

🇫🇷 répulsion

🇪🇸 repulsión

🇹🇷 tiksinti

🇰🇷 혐오감

🇸🇦 اشمئزاز

🇨🇿 odpor

🇸🇰 odpor

🇨🇳 厌恶 (yànwù)

🇸🇮 odpor

🇮🇸 viðbjóður

🇰🇿 жиіркену

🇬🇪 ზიზღი

🇦🇿 ikrah

🇲🇽 repulsión

Etymology

The word 'revulsion' originates from the Latin verb 'revulsus', which means 'to tear away'. It first appeared in English in the 17th century, primarily used in a medical sense to describe a pulling or tearing away of a part of the body. Over time, its meaning evolved to convey a strong sense of disgust or repulsion towards something. The concept of revulsion has been explored in various fields, including psychology and literature, to understand human reactions to aversive stimuli.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #19,032, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.