rə̇ˈpəlsiv, rēˈp-, -sēv also -səv adjective
1. : tending to repel or reject (as by denial or coldness of manner) : having or motivated by an intention to reject (as advances) : cold , forbidding
his reserve may be a little repulsive — Jane Austen
her manner became daily colder and more repulsive — Emily Eden
2. : serving to repulse : able to repel : characterized by repulsion
repulsive of his might the weapon stood — Alexander Pope
two bodies endowed with a repulsive power — Tobias Smollett
repulsive force
3. : repellent to the mind : arousing aversion or disgust : disgusting
contracted a repulsive disease — V.G.Heiser
the most repulsive character in recent novels — John Farrelly
the idea … was utterly repulsive to her — J.C.Powys
Synonyms: see offensive