repellent Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a compound with which fabrics are treated to repel water
    repellant.
  2. noun a chemical substance that repels animals
    repellant.
  3. noun the power to repel
    repellant.
    • she knew many repellents to his advances
  4. adjective satellite serving or tending to repel
    repellant; rebarbative.
    • he became rebarbative and prickly and spiteful
    • I find his obsequiousness repellent
  5. adjective satellite highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust
    distasteful; skanky; disgusting; loathly; loathsome; repellant; foul; disgustful; repelling; yucky; revolting; wicked.
    • a disgusting smell
    • distasteful language
    • a loathsome disease
    • the idea of eating meat is repellent to me
    • revolting food
    • a wicked stench
  6. adjective satellite incapable of absorbing or mixing with
    resistant.
    • a water-repellent fabric
    • plastic highly resistant to steam and water

WordNet

Re*pel"lent adjective
Etymology
L. repellens, -entis, p. pr.
Definitions
  1. Driving back; able or tending to repel.
Re*pel"lent noun
Definitions
  1. That which repels.
  2. (Med.) A remedy to repel from a tumefied part the fluids which render it tumid. Dunglison.
  3. A kind of waterproof cloth. Knight.

Webster 1913