revulsion
C1formal, literary
Definition
Meaning
A sudden, strong feeling of disgust and shock.
A sudden, violent change of feeling; a profound sense of aversion and withdrawal, often triggering physical reactions.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a recoiling from something physically or morally repugnant. Stronger than 'disgust' and more sudden. Often used to describe a collective public reaction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Slight preference in British English for the spelling 'revulsion' (identical) and perhaps more frequent literary use.
Connotations
Identical connotations of intense disgust and rejection.
Frequency
Used with similar frequency in both varieties, primarily in formal registers, news media, and literature.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
revulsion at/against/towards somethingfeel revulsionwith revulsionVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a wave of revulsion swept through the crowd”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in contexts of corporate scandals: 'The report caused widespread revulsion among shareholders.'
Academic
Used in ethics, sociology, history to describe societal reactions: 'The policy was met with moral revulsion.'
Everyday
Less common in casual speech. Used for extreme reactions: 'I felt pure revulsion when I saw the state of the kitchen.'
Technical
Not typically used in technical fields.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The very idea revolted him, filling him with revulsion.
- She was revolted by the proposal.
American English
- The graphic images revolted viewers, causing widespread revulsion.
- He revolts at the thought of eating meat.
adverb
British English
- He looked revoltingly at the spoiled food.
- She pulled her hand away revoltedly.
American English
- He recoiled revoltingly from the touch.
- She spoke revoltingly of the experience.
adjective
British English
- The revulsive force of public opinion turned the tide.
- He gave a revolted shudder.
American English
- She felt a revolting sensation in her stomach.
- The story was utterly revolting.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She felt revulsion when she saw the dead animal.
- His cruelty filled me with revulsion.
- A wave of public revulsion followed the revelations of corruption.
- He couldn't hide his revulsion at the unfair treatment.
- The memoir describes her profound moral revulsion at the regime's actions.
- His initial fascination with the cult quickly curdled into revulsion.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of REVULSION as a violent RE-VOLT-ing reaction that makes you want to PULl back (re+VULS+ion).
Conceptual Metaphor
DISGUST IS A PHYSICAL FORCE (that pushes you away).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'отвращение' (disgust) — 'revulsion' is stronger and more sudden. Not 'революция' (revolution).
Common Mistakes
- Using it for mild dislike. Incorrect preposition: 'revulsion for' (less common, prefer 'at/against/towards').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes 'revulsion'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, typically. 'Revulsion' implies a more intense, often physically recoiling reaction, while 'disgust' can be milder.
No, it is exclusively negative, describing a reaction to something perceived as repulsive.
The most common are 'revulsion at', 'revulsion against', and 'revulsion towards'. 'Revulsion for' is less common.
Not very common. It is more frequent in formal writing, journalism, and literature due to its strong, dramatic meaning.
Collections
Part of a collection
Nuanced Emotions
C2 · 48 words · Precise vocabulary for complex emotional states.