What does "repellent" mean?
A substance or solution used to repel insects, dangerous animals, or other pests.
Repellent
/ɹəˈpɛlənt/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A substance or solution used to repel insects, dangerous animals, or other pests.
- Grammar: repellent is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: abhorrent, abominable, aesthetic disgust, antipathetic.
- Useful contrasts: sexy, alluring, appetitive.
- Usage evidence: Don't forget to bring insect repellent.
How to use "repellent"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "repellent" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "repellent" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "repellent" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "repellent" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "repellent" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abhorrent" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "repellent", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A substance or solution used to repel insects, dangerous animals, or other pests.
"None of the mosquito repellents we've tried work."
- 2 the power to repel wordnet
- 3 A substance or treatment for a fabric etc to make it impervious to something.
"They applied dirt repellent to the sports car."
- 4 a chemical substance that repels animals wordnet
- 5 Someone or something that repels. broadly, obsolete
Show 1 more definition
- 6 a compound with which fabrics are treated to repel water wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Repulsive, inspiring aversion.
"The mixture of whey, beetroot juice, and spirulina seems repellent to me."
- 2 Resistant or impervious to something.
"All that fabric's supposed to be dust-repellent."
- 3 Tending or able to repel; driving back. archaic
"These particles exercise a-highly repellent force."
Adjective
- 1 incapable of absorbing or mixing with wordnet
- 2 highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust wordnet
- 3 serving or tending to repel wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Don't forget to bring insect repellent."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "repellent"?
Common synonyms include: abhorrent, abominable, aesthetic disgust, antipathetic, aversive, base.
How do you use "repellent" in a sentence?
Don't forget to bring insect repellent.
How do you pronounce "repellent"?
Pronounced /ɹəˈpɛlənt/.
Etymology
From Latin repellēns. Equivalent to repel + -ent.