ENGLISH
REFERENCE

repugnant

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ɹiˈpəɡnənt// UK //ɹɪpˈʌɡnənt// re·pug·nant

adj. causing a strong feeling of disgust or hatred. You use this to describe something that is so bad or offensive that you cannot stand it.

adj. causing a strong feeling of disgust, hatred, or moral revulsion. Often used in legal or formal contexts to describe evidence or behavior that is so offensive it cannot be ignored.


SIMPLE

The smell of the old trash was absolutely repugnant.

CONTEXTUAL

The judge dismissed the evidence as repugnant to the principles of justice and ordered a new trial.

COMPLEX

The defendant's testimony was so repugnant to the jury that they were forced to take a break to avoid being influenced by the emotional weight of the statements.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English repugnaunt, from Old French repugnant, borrowed from Latin repugnans, present participle of repugnare (“to oppose, to fight against”), from re- (“back, against”) + pugnare (“to fight”); see pugnacious.

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