repellant
repellant — adjective
- repellantpositive
- more repellantcomparative
- most repellantsuperlative
1. designed or able to keep something unwanted away, such as insects, water, dirt,
designed or able to keep something unwanted away, such as insects, water, dirt, or animals
Rafael bought a hiking jacket with a water-repellant coating before his trip to Scotland.
water-repellant + noun (compound adjective)
The new paint is repellant to mold and mildew, making it ideal for bathrooms.
be repellant to + noun
Bao stored his camping gear in a box with an insect-repellant lining.
This fabric treatment is repellant to dust, so the curtains stay clean much longer.
Emre chose a stain-repellant tablecloth for the new wooden dining table.
- resistant
more general; resistant to water/insects can overlap but resistant implies passive endurance rather than active driving away
- protective
broader in meaning, referring to guarding from any harm rather than specifically driving something away
- absorbent
draws in rather than keeps out; especially for water-repellant contexts
文法句型
be repellant to + noun
用法筆記
Frequently used in compound adjectives like water-repellant or stain-repellant, usually hyphenated before a noun.
常見錯誤
2. extremely unpleasant, causing a strong feeling of dislike or disgust
extremely unpleasant, causing a strong feeling of dislike or disgust
Hana found the cruelty toward animals shown in the documentary utterly repellant.
find + noun + repellant
The smell of rotten eggs from the old refrigerator was completely repellant.
Many voters considered the candidate's selfish and dishonest behavior morally repellant.
Joaquín thinks cheating is a repellant act that he would never be part of.
The landlord's rude attitude was so repellant that the tenants decided to move out.
- repulsive
very similar in meaning, but repulsive often suggests a physical sense of being driven back; equally strong
- revolting
even stronger, suggesting a feeling of nausea or physical sickness
- disgusting
more common in everyday speech; slightly less formal than repellant
- appealing
attracting rather than driving away
- attractive
drawing positive interest rather than disgust
文法句型
be repellant to + noun phrase
find + noun + repellant
用法筆記
Often intensified with adverbs like utterly, morally, completely, or deeply. Stronger and more visceral than synonyms like unpleasant or disagreeable.
常見錯誤
repellant — noun
1. a chemical or natural substance used to keep insects, animals, or water away fro
a chemical or natural substance used to keep insects, animals, or water away from a person, an animal, or a surface
Before her evening walk, Diya sprayed insect repellant on her arms and legs.
spray + repellant + on + body part
Yael bought a natural mosquito repellant made with lavender and lemon oil.
natural + mosquito repellant
The campers rubbed bug repellant on their clothes to keep ticks and mosquitoes away.
Otis uses a cedar-based moth repellant in his wardrobe every spring.
For young children, Evelyn chose a gentle insect repellant without harsh chemicals.
- attractant
a substance that draws animals/insects toward it rather than driving them away
文法句型
apply + repellant
use + repellant
insect repellant
用法筆記
Repellant (noun) is most commonly used for insect and animal repellents. For water, the phrase water repellent is often used as an uncountable property (e.g., 'this fabric has water repellency'). 'Repellent' with -ent is the more common spelling for this sense.