Repellent
adjective
Causing someone to feel strong dislike or disgust.
She found his constant attempts to flirt with her repellent.
Often appears as...
- repellent behavior
- repellent attitude
noun
A substance used to discourage a particular type of behavior or action.
She sprayed mosquito repellent on her arms and legs.
Often appears as...
- mosquito repellent
- insect repellent
adjective
A property that resists and prevents something.
The fabric has been treated to make it water repellent.
Often appears as...
- water repellent
- stain repellent
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Causing someone to feel strong dislike or disgust.
She found his constant attempts to flirt with her repellent.
Often appears as...
- repellent behavior
- repellent attitude
noun
A substance used to discourage a particular type of behavior or action.
She sprayed mosquito repellent on her arms and legs.
Often appears as...
- mosquito repellent
- insect repellent
adjective
A property that resists and prevents something.
The fabric has been treated to make it water repellent.
Often appears as...
- water repellent
- stain repellent
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Reaction
Indicates strong negative feelings towards someone's behavior or opinion.
His dismissive comments were so repellent, I had to walk away.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Physical
Used to describe an objectionable quality, not a physical barrier.
Her condescending tone was repellent to her colleagues.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid Overuse
Use sparingly to avoid diluting its strong impact.
He was normally polite, which made his sudden repellent behavior even more shocking.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Reaction
Indicates strong negative feelings towards someone's behavior or opinion.
His dismissive comments were so repellent, I had to walk away.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Physical
Used to describe an objectionable quality, not a physical barrier.
Her condescending tone was repellent to her colleagues.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid Overuse
Use sparingly to avoid diluting its strong impact.
He was normally polite, which made his sudden repellent behavior even more shocking.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Reaction
Indicates strong negative feelings towards someone's behavior or opinion.
His dismissive comments were so repellent, I had to walk away.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Physical
Used to describe an objectionable quality, not a physical barrier.
Her condescending tone was repellent to her colleagues.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid Overuse
Use sparingly to avoid diluting its strong impact.
He was normally polite, which made his sudden repellent behavior even more shocking.
Never forget "Repellent"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
Why I study the most...
we have looked at the fact that some mosquitoes like to bite you on the leg region. And we've now created these mosquito repellent sandals that tourists and locals can wear when they're coming. And you don't get bitten -- this gives you 'round the clock protection until the time you go under your bednet.
Video examples
Why are frogs...
some act as pain killers, and others serve as natural mosquito repellents. Many discoveries await us if we can save the frogs, but when a frog species disappears, so does any promise it holds for improving human health. Fortunately, there are lots of ways you can help, and the best place to start
Video examples
Nature is everywhere --...
bark beetle. So to deal with this, the park service has been planting rust-resistant white bark pine seedlings in the park, even in areas that they are otherwise managing as wilderness. And they're also putting out beetle repellent in key areas as I saw last time I went hiking there.
Video examples
Can wildlife adapt to...
Scientists think that keeps them from overheating. Meanwhile, pink salmon have adapted to warmer waters by spawning earlier in the season to protect their sensitive eggs. And wild thyme plants in Europe are producing more repellent oils to protect themselves against the herbivores
Video examples
Saving an Iconic Bird of...
more severe storms and heavy rainfall so periods of that are difficult for barn owls because their feathers aren't very water repellent so they get wet quickly so they're not able to feed during those periods and it's the same if you get periods of extended drought
Video examples
How to Design Mosquitoes...
over all exposed areas of skin. Don't put it on like perfume. A dab here or there is not going to provide protection. Unless you've got complete cover, those mosquitoes will find a way to find that gap in your repellent and bite.
Video examples
Sara Lewis: The loves...
they can manufacture toxins that are repellent to birds and other insectivores, but somewhere along the line, one particular group of fireflies somehow lost the metabolic machinery needed to make their own protective toxins.
Video examples
A secret weapon against...
Or you can cover up and apply insect repellent. Getting vaccinated is not an option, because there isn't a vaccine yet and there probably won't be for a couple of years. Staying home isn't a foolproof protection either
Video examples
Mac Barnett: Why a good...
so we just left it there forever. Mammoth Chunks. These things weigh, like, seven pounds each. Barbarian repellent. It's full of salad and potpourri — things that barbarians hate. Dead languages.
Video examples
Maggot Medicine PIPE...
maggots some people see them as slimy disgusting repellent and some day they just might save your life
Video examples
Why I study the most...
we have looked at the fact that some mosquitoes like to bite you on the leg region. And we've now created these mosquito repellent sandals that tourists and locals can wear when they're coming. And you don't get bitten -- this gives you 'round the clock protection until the time you go under your bednet.
Video examples
Why are frogs...
some act as pain killers, and others serve as natural mosquito repellents. Many discoveries await us if we can save the frogs, but when a frog species disappears, so does any promise it holds for improving human health. Fortunately, there are lots of ways you can help, and the best place to start
Video examples
Nature is everywhere --...
bark beetle. So to deal with this, the park service has been planting rust-resistant white bark pine seedlings in the park, even in areas that they are otherwise managing as wilderness. And they're also putting out beetle repellent in key areas as I saw last time I went hiking there.
Video examples
Can wildlife adapt to...
Scientists think that keeps them from overheating. Meanwhile, pink salmon have adapted to warmer waters by spawning earlier in the season to protect their sensitive eggs. And wild thyme plants in Europe are producing more repellent oils to protect themselves against the herbivores
Video examples
Saving an Iconic Bird of...
more severe storms and heavy rainfall so periods of that are difficult for barn owls because their feathers aren't very water repellent so they get wet quickly so they're not able to feed during those periods and it's the same if you get periods of extended drought
Video examples
How to Design Mosquitoes...
over all exposed areas of skin. Don't put it on like perfume. A dab here or there is not going to provide protection. Unless you've got complete cover, those mosquitoes will find a way to find that gap in your repellent and bite.
Video examples
Sara Lewis: The loves...
they can manufacture toxins that are repellent to birds and other insectivores, but somewhere along the line, one particular group of fireflies somehow lost the metabolic machinery needed to make their own protective toxins.
Video examples
A secret weapon against...
Or you can cover up and apply insect repellent. Getting vaccinated is not an option, because there isn't a vaccine yet and there probably won't be for a couple of years. Staying home isn't a foolproof protection either
Video examples
Mac Barnett: Why a good...
so we just left it there forever. Mammoth Chunks. These things weigh, like, seven pounds each. Barbarian repellent. It's full of salad and potpourri — things that barbarians hate. Dead languages.
Video examples
Maggot Medicine PIPE...
maggots some people see them as slimy disgusting repellent and some day they just might save your life
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Glenn Greenwald
American Journalist
It's always easy to get people to condemn threats to free speech when the speech being threatened is speech that they like. It's much more difficult to induce support for free speech rights when the speech being punished is speech they find repellent.
Quote examples
Michael Trucco
American Actor
The most important thing is to illicit some reaction, good or bad. If some people are repellent to me, so be it. If some people are attracted to me, great. At the end, that's the object of entertainment - you want to provoke a reaction.
Quote examples
Fran Lebowitz
American Journalist
I place a high moral value on the way people behave. I find it repellent to have a lot, and to behave with anything other than courtesy in the old sense of the word - politeness of the heart, a gentleness of the spirit.
Quote examples
Tom Frieden
American Public Servant
People traveling to malaria-prone areas can protect themselves by taking steps such as taking antimalarial drugs, using insect repellent, sleeping under insecticide-treated bed-nets, and wearing protective clothing.
Quote examples
Rebecca Hall
English Actress
Some of my acting heroes have built careers on playing characters who do horrendous things - they're repellent and lovable. They're not likable, but they're lovable. I think Christine is one of those characters.
Quote examples
Scott Spencer
American Author
Like most people, I find my own experiences - and my emotional responses to those experiences - fascinating and mysterious, even those that are a bit shaming and a little repellent.
Quote examples
Curtis Armstrong
American Actor
There's something about the way of playing a repellent character, that if you can play him with a certain amount of charm, you can get away with a lot.
Quote examples
Steve Erickson
American Novelist
As a genre, the noir of post-World War II was based on characters who were weak or repellent, bound to let down us and themselves.
Quote examples
Sophie Dahl
English Model
I love anchovies in sauces, but on their own, they're repellent: their lurid pink bodies spook me out.
Quote examples
Thomas French
American Journalist
All zoos are both beguiling and repellent.
Quote examples
Glenn Greenwald
American Journalist
It's always easy to get people to condemn threats to free speech when the speech being threatened is speech that they like. It's much more difficult to induce support for free speech rights when the speech being punished is speech they find repellent.
Quote examples
Michael Trucco
American Actor
The most important thing is to illicit some reaction, good or bad. If some people are repellent to me, so be it. If some people are attracted to me, great. At the end, that's the object of entertainment - you want to provoke a reaction.
Quote examples
Fran Lebowitz
American Journalist
I place a high moral value on the way people behave. I find it repellent to have a lot, and to behave with anything other than courtesy in the old sense of the word - politeness of the heart, a gentleness of the spirit.
Quote examples
Tom Frieden
American Public Servant
People traveling to malaria-prone areas can protect themselves by taking steps such as taking antimalarial drugs, using insect repellent, sleeping under insecticide-treated bed-nets, and wearing protective clothing.
Quote examples
Rebecca Hall
English Actress
Some of my acting heroes have built careers on playing characters who do horrendous things - they're repellent and lovable. They're not likable, but they're lovable. I think Christine is one of those characters.
Quote examples
Scott Spencer
American Author
Like most people, I find my own experiences - and my emotional responses to those experiences - fascinating and mysterious, even those that are a bit shaming and a little repellent.
Quote examples
Curtis Armstrong
American Actor
There's something about the way of playing a repellent character, that if you can play him with a certain amount of charm, you can get away with a lot.
Quote examples
Steve Erickson
American Novelist
As a genre, the noir of post-World War II was based on characters who were weak or repellent, bound to let down us and themselves.
Quote examples
Sophie Dahl
English Model
I love anchovies in sauces, but on their own, they're repellent: their lurid pink bodies spook me out.
Quote examples
Thomas French
American Journalist
All zoos are both beguiling and repellent.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension