repellent
repellent Lexical Profile
repellent Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Serving or able to drive back, ward off, or resist penetration by a particular substance or pest (often used in combination).
"She wore a lightweight, water-repellent jacket to stay dry during the sudden autumn drizzle."
Arousing strong disgust, distaste, or aversion; offensive or repulsive.
"The documentary exposed the morally repellent conditions inside the unregulated factory."
• noun
A chemical substance applied to skin, clothing, or surfaces to deter insects or other pests from approaching or biting.
"Before hiking through the marshland, everyone applied a generous layer of mosquito repellent."
A treatment or coating applied to fabric, leather, or other materials to prevent penetration by water, stains, or dirt.
"Treating the canvas tent with a silicone-based water repellent extended its lifespan through several rainy seasons."
Word Nuance & Usage
Although "repellent" and "repellant" are accepted variant spellings for both the noun and adjective, "repellent" is significantly more common across all contexts in modern standard English.
• Rhymes for repellent
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the mid-17th century from Latin *repellentem*, the present participle of *repellere* ("to drive back"), formed from *re-* ("back") and *pellere* ("to drive" or "to strike").