revulsion
noun
re·vul·sion ri-ˈvəl-shən 
1
: a strong pulling or drawing away : withdrawal
2
a
: a sudden or strong reaction or change
b
: a sense of utter distaste or repugnance
revulsive
ri-ˈvəl-siv
adjective 
Synonyms
- aversion
- disgust
- distaste
- horror
- loathing
- nausea
- repugnance
- repulsion
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
She was struck with revulsion at the sight of the dead animal. a growing revulsion to war
Recent Examples on the Web Apparently not, based on the crowd reacting with revulsion. 
Brendan Morrow, The Week, 30 Aug. 2022 Hellquist’s initial reaction to her paternity shock was a mix of revulsion and shame. Sarah Treleaven, ELLE, 27 July 2022 Many of his films have been met with revulsion or at least aggrieved ambivalence. Adam Nayman, The New Yorker, 3 June 2022 One likes to think such revulsion remains an enduring aspect of the national character. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 12 July 2022 The Great Black Swamp, a product of the excess of mire left over from the glacial melting of the Ice Age-era Lake Erie, and which covered much of Ohio and parts of Michigan and Indiana, inspired visceral revulsion. Annie Proulx, The New Yorker, 27 June 2022 The franchise has always exhibited a perplexing tension between revering science and reviling it, with revulsion winning out. Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 8 June 2022 But a general, and often exaggerated, sense that guns are too easy to obtain combined with a revulsion at their lethality is not enough. W. James Antle Iii, The Week, 26 May 2022 Bill, a lifelong Republican, responded to the exaggerated masculine bravado of the Trump administration with something resembling revulsion. Jose A. Del Real, Washington Post, 23 May 2022 See More
Brendan Morrow, The Week, 30 Aug. 2022 Hellquist’s initial reaction to her paternity shock was a mix of revulsion and shame. Sarah Treleaven, ELLE, 27 July 2022 Many of his films have been met with revulsion or at least aggrieved ambivalence. Adam Nayman, The New Yorker, 3 June 2022 One likes to think such revulsion remains an enduring aspect of the national character. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 12 July 2022 The Great Black Swamp, a product of the excess of mire left over from the glacial melting of the Ice Age-era Lake Erie, and which covered much of Ohio and parts of Michigan and Indiana, inspired visceral revulsion. Annie Proulx, The New Yorker, 27 June 2022 The franchise has always exhibited a perplexing tension between revering science and reviling it, with revulsion winning out. Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 8 June 2022 But a general, and often exaggerated, sense that guns are too easy to obtain combined with a revulsion at their lethality is not enough. W. James Antle Iii, The Week, 26 May 2022 Bill, a lifelong Republican, responded to the exaggerated masculine bravado of the Trump administration with something resembling revulsion. Jose A. Del Real, Washington Post, 23 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin revulsion-, revulsio act of tearing away, from revellere to pluck away, from re- + vellere to pluck — more at vulnerable
First Known Use
1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
revulsion
noun
re·vul·sion ri-ˈvəl-shən
: a strong feeling of dislike or disgust
Medical Definition
revulsion
noun
re·vul·sion ri-ˈvəl-shən
: alleviation of a localized disease by treatment (as with counterirritants) of an adjacent region
revulsive
adjective
as in repulsive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- repulsive
- disgusting
- loathsome
- revolting
- abhorrent
- hateful
- sickening
- repugnant
- odious
- vile
- nauseating
- abominable
- nauseous
- appalling
- ghastly
- awful
- horrible
- hideous
- horrid
- obnoxious
- unholy
- repellent
- ugly
- bilious
- dreadful
- unpleasant
- shocking
- invidious
- scandalous
- gross
- villainous
- offensive
- sick
- obscene
- disagreeable
- noisome
- hellish
- horrendous
- icky
- distasteful
- unwelcome
- gnarly
- unpalatable
- seamy
- displeasing
- foul
- uncongenial
- god-awful
- beastly
- wicked
- unsavory
- irritating
- harsh
- unpleasing
- annoying
- sour
- repellant
- aggravating
- bitter
- bad
- unlovely
- rotten
- yucky
- nasty
- vexing
- yukky
- miserable
- wretched
- galling
- crappy
- lousy
- crummy
- sucky
- cruddy
- crumby
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- good
- pleasant
- agreeable
- pleasurable
- satisfying
- grateful
- congenial
- nice
- gratifying
- delightful
- delicious
- palatable
- welcome
- pleasing
- sweet
- charming
- dreamy
- friendly
- amiable
- jolly
- delectable
- felicitous
- kindly
- cheery