Synonyms of revulsion
1
: a strong pulling or drawing away : withdrawal
2
a
: a sudden or strong reaction or change
b
: a sense of utter distaste or repugnance
felt revulsion at the sight of such wanton destruction

Examples of revulsion in a Sentence

She was struck with revulsion at the sight of the dead animal. a growing revulsion to war
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There is also a sense of real revulsion and anger about the concentration of wealth at the top, and a sense of wanting to create a more egalitarian country … that speaks to a sense of fundamental human dignity. John Blake, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026 At the end of the third set, Gareth whispered into Marcy’s ear across the table, and her face took on a look of revulsion. Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026 When Google’s co-founder Larry Page stated that machines represent a higher form of intelligence, making human extinction an untroubling evolutionary event, most people responded with revulsion. Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026 MacLeod’s revulsion toward copyright comes from frustration, and a desire to divorce art from capital incentives. Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for revulsion

Word History

Etymology

Latin revulsion-, revulsio act of tearing away, from revellere to pluck away, from re- + vellere to pluck — more at vulnerable

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of revulsion was in 1609

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Revulsion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/revulsion. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

revulsion

noun
1
: a strong pulling or drawing away : withdrawal
2
a
: a sudden or strong reaction or change
b
: a sense of complete dislike

Medical Definition

revulsion

noun
: alleviation of a localized disease by treatment (as with counterirritants) of an adjacent region
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