# repulsive

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ɹɪˈpʌlsɪv/ · frequency rank #23,083

## Definitions
1. Tending to rouse aversion or to repulse; disgusting.
2. Having the capacity to repel.
3. Cold; reserved; forbidding.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French repulsif, from Medieval Latin repulsivus, from Latin repulsus. By surface analysis, repuls(e) + -ive.
Compare typologically Polish odpychający (< pchnąć), Russian отта́лкивающий (ottálkivajuščij) (< толкну́ть (tolknútʹ)).

## Easily confused with
- **recursive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/recursive-vs-repulsive)
- **repulsion** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/repulsion-vs-repulsive)

## Common misspellings (13)
`erpulsive`, `replusive`, `reppulsive`, `repulisve`, `repullsive`, `repulsiev`, `repulsivve`, `repulssive`, `repulsvie`, `repuslive`, `reuplsive`, `rpeulsive`, `rrepulsive`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/repulsive