rēˈbärbəd.iv, -bȧb- adjective
Etymology: French rébarbatif, from Middle French rebarber to be repellent (from re- + barbe beard, from Latin barba ) + -atif -ative — more at beard
: serving or tending to repel or irritate : crabbed , repellent
the impression given by these letters is not so much rebarbative as infinitely pathetic — New Statesman & Nation