What does "repugnancy" mean?
The quality of being repugnant: offensiveness, repulsion.
Repugnancy
/ɹɪˈpʌɡnənsi/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The quality of being repugnant: offensiveness, repulsion.
- Grammar: repugnancy is listed as noun.
- Usage evidence: […] howsoever nature dictates, that government is necessary for the safety of the society, yet every singular person, by corruption and selfe-love, hath a naturall aversenesse and repugnancie to submit to any; every man would be a King himselfe […]
How to use "repugnancy"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "repugnancy" 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
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- 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 "repugnancy" 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 "repugnancy" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "repugnancy" is acting as 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
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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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 The quality of being repugnant: offensiveness, repulsion. countable, uncountable
"[…] howsoever nature dictates, that government is necessary for the safety of the society, yet every singular person, by corruption and selfe-love, hath a naturall aversenesse and repugnancie to submit to any; every man would be a King himselfe […]"
- 2 The quality of being repugnant: (logical) opposition, contradiction, incompatibility. countable, uncountable
"For if the paralleles be of this nature, that howe muche the nearer we are th’equinoctiall, so muche the greater is the heate: and howe muche the furder remoued from th’equinoctiall, so muche the colder the qualitie of the aire is: there must seme a manifest repugnancie, betwixt Auicenne, & the Geographers."
- 3 Resistance, fighting back. archaic, countable, uncountable
"Why do fond men expose themselves to battle, And not endure all threats? sleep upon’t, And let the foes quietly cut their throats, Without repugnancy?"
Example
"[…] howsoever nature dictates, that government is necessary for the safety of the society, yet every singular person, by corruption and selfe-love, hath a naturall aversenesse and repugnancie to submit to any; every man would be a King himselfe […]"
Common questions
How do you use "repugnancy" in a sentence?
[…] howsoever nature dictates, that government is necessary for the safety of the society, yet every singular person, by corruption and selfe-love, hath a naturall aversenesse and repugnancie to submit to any; every man would be a King himselfe […]
How do you pronounce "repugnancy"?
Pronounced /ɹɪˈpʌɡnənsi/.
Etymology
From repugnant + -cy.