repellent
n.a substance that keeps something away from you. In physics, it is a force that pushes two things apart instead of pulling them together.
n.a substance or force that causes a physical or chemical reaction to drive something away. In physics, it refers to a force that acts to increase the distance between two objects.
“The strong smell of the insect repellent keeps the bugs away.”
“The chemical used as a mosquito repellent contains a substance that insects find unpleasant and avoid.”
“During periods of drought, ground can become very hard and compacted, which can make it more water repellent and increase run off.”
“It is quite the story – equally repellent and engrossing – but how should it be told?”
From Latin repellēns. Equivalent to repel + -ent.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.