adjective

repugnant

rih-PUG-nunt/rɪˈpʌɡnənt/

Causing strong disgust or disapproval.

The rotten apple's mold and flies make it repugnant.

A visibly rotten apple with mold and flies beside a fresh apple, repugnant decay, restrained not grotesque.

Etymology

reLatinback, against

+pugnLatinto fight

+antLatinpresent participle ending

The pieces express “fighting back” or opposing. Repugnant first described things that were hostile, contradictory, or incompatible; this opposition developed into the sense of something objectionable or deeply offensive.

In context

History Finace Files2:34

And charging interest on someone's misfortune, profiting from their desperation, that was considered morally repugnant. You were kicking someone when they were down

USURY | From Hellfire to Credit Cards

More examples

The smell of rotting garbage is repugnant to him.
They consider racial discrimination morally repugnant.
I find the idea of profiting from someone else's suffering repugnant.

Forms

repugnant

repugnance noun — Strong disgust or disapproval toward something.

Similar words

revolting: Often emphasizes physical disgust rather than moral disapproval.
abhorrent: Emphasizes intense moral rejection, especially of actions or beliefs.
offensive: Can describe milder affronts that do not provoke deep disgust.