Revulsion    (pronounced rih-vul-shun) noun


Definition

1. a withdrawal; drawing away from something. 2. a sudden and strong reaction or change of feeling; a violent and abrupt reversal in sentiment, opinion, or attitude. 3. a strong sense of disgust, repugnance, or shock; a feeling of immense dislike or loathing.

Main Example

  • Many social conservatives have expressed revulsion at the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling allowing same-sex couples to wed and are now calling for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

    Workplace Examples

  • Many of us managers have developed a revulsion against e-mails. We each receive over 250 a day, most of them from employees who copy all managers on every e-mail! I see an urgent need to establish some sort of protocol to guide employees on this issue.

  • I'll never forget Jonathan's expression when he walked into his office on that first day back from his long illness. You could see the revulsion on his face when confronted with those mile-high stacks of mail, reports, and various printouts.

    Other Examples

  • explaining why you don't want to be put in the situation of having to negotiate with a particular firm, your saying: "You must understand my revulsion in sitting down in the same room as those guys. They have gone back on their word not just once or twice, but several times!"

  • the wave of revulsion set off by the sky-high money raising in the 2000 election--over a half-billion dollars-- creating unprecedented support for campaign finance reforms

  • a recent and authoritative biography of Pius XII -- pope during WWII -- revealing that he harbored a sense of revulsion towards Jews

  • the Sept. 11 attacks filling most Americans with revulsion, loathing, and astonishment

    © 2004 V.J. Singal

    This Month's Other Words

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    Lacerating
    Exalted and Exaltation
    Albatross
    Bastion
    Draconian
    Implacable

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