Repellent is a word with a few related but distinctclearly different from one another; not the same meanings. It can describe something that drives things away, something that resistsdoes not allow water or other liquids to pass through easily water or mixing, or something that is unpleasant enough to cause disgusta strong feeling of being grossed out or revolted.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /rɪˈpɛlənt/
Easy pronunciation: rih-PEL-ənt (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress is on the second syllable: PEL.
Adjective meaning highly offensive or unpleasant; causing dislike or disgust.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Repellent Meaning
very unpleasant and hard to like
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: highly offensive or unpleasant; causing dislike or disgust
Example: The smell was repellent.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- disgusting — A strong everyday substitute when something causes disgust.
- revolting — Strongly expresses disgust or revulsion.
- loathsome — Means very unpleasant and offensive.
- distasteful — Less strong; works when something is unpleasant or offensive.
- foul — Can mean disgusting or morally offensive, depending on context.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Repellent
Meaning 2
driving something away
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: serving or tending to repel
Example: Her repellent attitude kept people at a distance.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- rebarbative — Means unattractive or discouraging, usually in a formal style.
- repelling — A close match for something that causes others to move away.
Meaning 3
the ability to push away or keep away
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the power to repel
Example: The defense system had a strong repellent against insects.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- repellant — Variant spelling used for this noun sense.
Meaning 4
a treatment that makes fabric resist water
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a compound used on fabrics to keep water out
Example: The jacket was treated with a water repellent.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- repellant — Variant spelling used for this material or treatment sense.
Meaning 5
a product that keeps pests away
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a chemical substance that repels animals or insects
Example: They sprayed an insect repellent around the tent.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- repellant — Variant spelling used for this product sense.
Meaning 6
able to resist water or other substances
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: incapable of absorbing or mixing with
Example: The new tent fabric is water-repellent.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- resistant — Works in compounds like water-resistant, though it is not always a perfect substitute.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Repellent Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- disgusting
- revolting
- loathsome
- distasteful
- foul
Serving or tending to repel
- rebarbative
- repelling
The power to repel
- repellant
A compound used on fabrics to keep water out
- repellant
A chemical substance that repels animals or insects
- repellant
Incapable of absorbing or mixing with
- resistant
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse the adjective meaning 'disgusting' with the adjective meaning 'water-resistant'.
- Do not use repellent and repellant as if they are different words; they are spelling variants in several senses.
- Do not mix the 'driving away' meaning with the 'repulsive' meaning.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does repellent mean?
Repellent can mean disgusting or offensive, but it can also mean something that drives things away or resists water.
Is repellent an adjective or a noun?
It can be both. As an adjective, it often means disgusting or unpleasant. As a noun, it can mean a substance or treatment that repels insects, animals, or water.
What is a water-repellent fabric?
It is fabric treated so that water does not soak into it easily.
What are common synonyms for repellent?
For the 'disgusting' sense, common synonyms include disgusting, revolting, loathsome, distasteful, and foul.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
