revulsion

[ ri-vuhl-shuhn ]
/ rɪˈvʌl ʃən /

noun

a strong feeling of repugnance, distaste, or dislike: Cruelty fills me with revulsion.
a sudden and violent change of feeling or response in sentiment, taste, etc.
the act of drawing something back or away.
the fact of being so drawn.
Medicine/Medical. the diminution of morbid action in one part of the body by irritation in another.

Origin of revulsion

1535–45; < Latin revulsiōn- (stem of revulsiō) a tearing away, equivalent to revuls(us) (past participle of revellere to tear away, equivalent to re- re- + vellere to pluck) + -iōn- -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM revulsion

re·vul·sion·ar·y, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for revulsion

British Dictionary definitions for revulsion

revulsion
/ (rɪˈvʌlʃən) /

noun

a sudden and unpleasant violent reaction in feeling, esp one of extreme loathing
the act or an instance of drawing back or recoiling from something
obsolete the diversion of disease or congestion from one part of the body to another by cupping, counterirritants, etc

Derived forms of revulsion

revulsionary, adjective

Word Origin for revulsion

C16: from Latin revulsiō a pulling away, from revellere, from re- + vellere to pull, tear

Medical definitions for revulsion

revulsion
[ rĭ-vŭlshən ]

n.

A sudden, strong change or reaction in feeling, especially a feeling of violent disgust or loathing.
Counterirritation used to reduce inflammation or increase the blood supply to an affected area.