repulsive
adj.adj. extremely unpleasant or disgusting to look at, smell, or think about. In science, it also describes a force that pushes two things away from each other.
adj. arousing intense distaste or disgust; alternatively, relating to a physical force that tends to push two bodies apart.
The smell of the rotting food was absolutely repulsive.
Magnets with the same poles facing each other create a repulsive force that prevents them from touching.
While the protagonist's actions were morally repulsive to the audience, the author's skillful prose kept readers engaged with the narrative's darker themes.
Borrowed from Middle French repulsif, from Medieval Latin repulsivus, from Latin repulsus. By surface analysis, repuls(e) + -ive. Compare typologically Polish odpychający (< pchnąć), Russian отта́лкивающий (ottálkivajuščij) (< толкну́ть (tolknútʹ)).
Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be', 'feel', or 'seem'. In physics contexts, it is the antonym of 'attractive'.