repugnance: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal / Literary
Quick answer
What does “repugnance” mean?
A feeling of intense disgust or strong aversion.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A feeling of intense disgust or strong aversion.
A state of being contradictory or incompatible; a deep-seated opposition or conflict.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or syntactic differences. The word is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally formal and strong in both dialects. Slightly more common in British academic/philosophical writing historically, but the distinction is minimal today.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech for both; slightly higher relative frequency in British English corpus data, but not statistically significant for learners.
Grammar
How to Use “repugnance” in a Sentence
feel ~ for/towards sth/sbhave a ~ to sth~ at sth~ towards sth/sbin ~with ~Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “repugnance” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- No direct verb form. Use 'find repugnant', 'regard with repugnance'.
- The very idea repugns him. (Archaic, extremely rare)
American English
- No direct verb form. Use 'be repulsed by', 'find repugnant'.
- His actions repugn the core values of the community. (Archaic, legal)
adverb
British English
- He repugnantly refused to help. (Very rare, 'disgustingly' preferred)
- She looked at him repugnantly.
American English
- The substance was repugnantly foul. (Rare)
- He acted repugnantly towards the guests.
adjective
British English
- He found the cruelty utterly repugnant.
- A repugnant smell emanated from the drain.
American English
- She found his proposal morally repugnant.
- The discriminatory policy was repugnant to everyone on the committee.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in ethics policies: 'The deal was rejected out of moral repugnance.'
Academic
Common in philosophy, law, ethics, and social sciences to discuss moral principles or logical contradictions.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Used for emphasis in serious discussions about strong dislike.
Technical
In law, 'repugnancy' or 'repugnant' can describe a clause contradictory to a main legal principle.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “repugnance”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “repugnance”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “repugnance”
- Using it as an adjective (*'I am repugnance to that idea') instead of the adjective 'repugnant'.
- Misspelling as 'repungnance' or 'repugance'.
- Using it in informal contexts where 'disgust' or 'hatred' would be more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, typically. 'Repugnance' implies a more profound, often morally or instinctively grounded aversion, whereas 'disgust' can be more immediate and physical.
Primarily it describes a feeling. However, in formal/logical contexts, it can describe a state of contradiction between ideas or principles (e.g., 'the repugnance of the new law to the old statute').
Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'I am repugnance') instead of the correct adjective form 'repugnant' (e.g., 'I find it repugnant').
No, it is quite formal and has low frequency in everyday speech. Words like 'disgust', 'hatred', or 'aversion' are more common in casual conversation.
A feeling of intense disgust or strong aversion.
Repugnance is usually formal / literary in register.
Repugnance: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈpʌɡnəns/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˈpʌɡnəns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(do something) in/with repugnance”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE (again) + PUGN (fight, as in 'pugnacious') + ANCE (state). It's the state of fighting *against* something because it disgusts you.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISGUST IS A PHYSICAL FORCE (It repels me). / MORAL WRONGNESS IS A CONTAMINANT (It fills me with repugnance).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'repugnance' LEAST likely to be used?