rebarbative

[ ree-bahr-buh-tiv ]
/ riˈbɑr bə tɪv /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR rebarbative ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

causing annoyance, irritation, or aversion; repellent.

Origin of rebarbative

1890–95; < French, feminine of rébarbatif, derivative of rébarber to be unattractive, equivalent to ré- re- + barbe beard (< Latin barba) + -atif -ative

Words nearby rebarbative

reawaken, reb, rebab, rebadge, rebar, rebarbative, rebate, rebated, rebatement, rebato, rebbe

Words related to rebarbative

distressing, troublesome, disturbing, inconvenient, annoying, irritating, vexing, aggravating, disheartening, daunting, offensive, foul, remote, tiresome, vexatious, incommodious, exasperating, awful, hateful, odious

British Dictionary definitions for rebarbative

rebarbative
/ (rɪˈbɑːbətɪv) /

adjective

fearsome; forbidding

Word Origin for rebarbative

C19: from French rébarbatif, from Old French rebarber to repel (an enemy), to withstand (him) face to face, from re- + barbe beard, from Latin barba