repugnant
extremely offensive, distasteful, or unacceptable
Roots
Other words with the pugn root
- impugn: to attack as false or wrong
- pugnacious: eager or quick to fight
- pugnacity: eagerness to fight or argue
Repugnant began with fighting back. Now the feeling fights back: the idea or act is so offensive that you recoil from it.
The idea of cheating felt repugnant after months of honest work.
Repugnant is stronger than unpleasant. It has resistance inside it. Something in you pushes back.
The pugn fight-family helps: repugnant things seem to fight against your moral taste, your senses, or your idea of what is acceptable.