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repellent definition

re·pel·lent (-ənt)

adjective

  1. that repels; pushing away or driving back
    1. causing distaste, dislike, or aversion; repulsive
    2. causing insects, etc. to react by staying away
  3. able to resist the absorption of liquid, esp. water, to a limited extent a water-repellent raincoat

Etymology: L repellens

noun

something that repels; specif.,
  1. a solution applied to fabric to make it water-repellent
  2. any substance used to repel insects
Also repellant re·pel′·lant

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

medical repellent definition - medical

repellent Synonyms

repellent

modif.

repulsive, repugnant, odious, off-putting; see offensive 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

repellent Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • use: You can deter foxes with strong smells such as the repellents used to deter dogs and cats.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • wear: You engage in " behavior modification " : not going out at dusk, wearing mosquito repellent all the time.

Adjective modifier

  • natural: The appeal of natural repellents Recent research has identified particular plant extracts which could help to keep insect pests at bay.

Modifies a noun

  • spray: Of course a bug repellent spray or similar will hopefully keep most bugs at bay.

Used with adjective complement

  • find: A nostalgia overcame him which in later years he found repellent.

Noun used with modifier

  • insect: Insect repellents should be applied top of sun cream where needed.

Modifying Another Word

  • so: You can't imagine how someone so repellent and self-serving could even manage to get married.
repellent usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"repellent." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 3 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/repellent>

APA Style

repellent. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 3rd, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/repellent

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