Repugnants

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Describing something that arouses intense disgust or aversion; causing a strong feeling of dislike or opposition; provoking a deep sense of moral or physical revulsion
2. Characterizing elements that are offensive or repulsive to the senses or conscience; eliciting hostility or resistance due to inherent unpleasantness; inducing a vivid reaction of loathing or disapproval
3. Indicating qualities or actions that are extremely distasteful or objectionable; inspiring antagonism or recoil because they contradict accepted standards; generating a powerful negative emotional response due to their disagreeable nature

Etymology: In Latin, "repugnans" meant "fighting back" or "opposing," from "repugnare," which combined "re-" (back, against) with "pugnare," "to fight." "Pugnus" (fist) and English "pugilist" share that root. The sense was originally about conflict rather than disgust: two things were repugnant when they were incompatible, as a law could be repugnant to a constitution. English kept that older sense of contradiction for some time, and the modern sense of something loathsome developed from the idea of being so opposed to one's own standards that it provokes recoil. "Repugnants" is not a standard form of this adjective, which has no plural, so the form in your query is likely a mistake for "repugnant" itself.

Synonyms: repulsive, disgusting, offensive, abhorrent, revolting

Antonyms: attractive, pleasing, agreeable, appealing, delightful