repellent
repellent
Definition
re·pel·lent (-ənt)
adjective
- that repels; pushing away or driving back
- causing distaste, dislike, or aversion; repulsive
- causing insects, etc. to react by staying away
- 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.,
- a solution applied to fabric to make it water-repellent
- any substance used to repel insects
re·pel′·lence noun or re·pel′·lency
re·pel′·lently adverb
repellent
Synonyms
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.
- bring: Try to bring some insect repellent or a net.
- buy: I should have bought some insect repellent I think.
- find: Now I don't know what Boris thinks of this, but I find the whole idea repellent.
- use: Use an insect repellent where biting insects are known to be active.
Adjective modifier
- natural: The appeal of natural repellents Recent research has identified particular plant extracts which could help to keep insect pests at bay.
- effective: Scottish researchers have developed a new and effective repellent which has its origins in the Indian Neem tree.
Modifies a noun
- spray: Of course a bug repellent spray or similar will hopefully keep most bugs at bay.
- coating: However, using a clear water repellent coating will help to prevent fading.
- finish: The backing material is a second layer of nylon Taslan which is also treated with a durable water repellent finish.
- cream: Don't forget your midge repellent, sun cream, waterproof and bobble hat - the weather can be pretty mixed up there!
- treatment: The stability of all wood used out of doors can be improved by the use of water repellent treatments.
- property: Uses: Culinary, medicinal, and repellent properties.
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.
- mosquito: We supply a variety of insect and mosquito repellents and killers.
- chemical: In the past, a variety of chemical repellents have also been tried to deter badgers from gardens.
- water: The waterproof properties of close weave fabrics can be enhanced with the use of chemical water repellents.
Modifying Another Word
- so: You can't imagine how someone so repellent and self-serving could even manage to get married.
Browse dictionary entries near repellent
- repel
- repeating firearm
- repeating decimal
- repeating
- repeater
- repeatedly
- repeated
- repeat dial
- repeat
- repeal
- repelling
- repent
- repentance
- repentant
- repeople
- repercussion
- repertoire
- repertory
- repertory theater
- repetend
