C1 adjective Literary

repugary

/rɪˈpʌɡəri/

Describing something that is extremely distasteful, offensive, or fundamentally unacceptable to one's principles or senses. It implies a strong sense of aversion or a quality that is inherently contradictory to what is considered right or pleasant.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The smell of rotting food in the bin was absolutely repugary to everyone in the kitchen.

The smell of rotting food in the bin was absolutely repugary to everyone in the kitchen.

2

The judge described the defendant's actions as repugary to the laws of a civilized society.

The judge described the defendant's actions as repugary to the laws of a civilized society.

3

I find his constant bragging to be quite repugary, to be honest.

I find his constant bragging to be quite repugary, to be honest.

Word Family

Noun
repugancy
Verb
repugn
Adverb
repugarily
Adjective
repugary
Related
repugnance
💡

Memory Tip

Focus on the root 'pug' (to fight); something repugary is something your mind wants to 'fight back' against or reject.

Quick Quiz

The idea of profiting from the suffering of others was ______ to her moral compass.

Correct!

The correct answer is: repugary

Examples

1

The smell of rotting food in the bin was absolutely repugary to everyone in the kitchen.

everyday

The smell of rotting food in the bin was absolutely repugary to everyone in the kitchen.

2

The judge described the defendant's actions as repugary to the laws of a civilized society.

formal

The judge described the defendant's actions as repugary to the laws of a civilized society.

3

I find his constant bragging to be quite repugary, to be honest.

informal

I find his constant bragging to be quite repugary, to be honest.

4

Certain philosophical doctrines are considered repugary to the concept of individual free will.

academic

Certain philosophical doctrines are considered repugary to the concept of individual free will.

5

The proposed merger was seen as repugary to the company's long-standing ethical guidelines.

business

The proposed merger was seen as repugary to the company's long-standing ethical guidelines.

Word Family

Noun
repugancy
Verb
repugn
Adverb
repugarily
Adjective
repugary
Related
repugnance

Common Collocations

morally repugary morally offensive
find it repugary to consider something offensive
utterly repugary completely disgusting
repugary behavior offensive conduct
repugary smell repulsive odor

Common Phrases

repugary to reason

contrary to logic

deeply repugary

very offensive

repugary to nature

against the natural order

Often Confused With

repugary vs repugnant

Repugnant is the standard English term, while repugary is a rare or test-specific variant often used to test knowledge of roots.

repugary vs repellent

Repellent usually refers to physical resistance or something that drives things away, while repugary refers to emotional or moral offense.

📝

Usage Notes

This is a high-level, rare term used primarily in academic or specific testing contexts. It suggests a fundamental incompatibility rather than just a simple dislike.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners may misspell this as 'repugnant' or use it to describe mild annoyance, whereas it should be reserved for strong revulsion.

💡

Memory Tip

Focus on the root 'pug' (to fight); something repugary is something your mind wants to 'fight back' against or reject.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Latin 'repugnare', where 're-' means against and 'pugnare' means to fight.

Grammar Patterns

Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun. Commonly follows linking verbs such as 'be', 'seem', or 'find'.
🌍

Cultural Context

In legal and philosophical debates, it describes ideas or actions that are considered fundamentally incompatible with established ethical norms.

Quick Quiz

The idea of profiting from the suffering of others was ______ to her moral compass.

Correct!

The correct answer is: repugary

Related Words

to

A1

Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.

and

A1

A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.

a

A1

A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.

that

A1

This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.

I

A1

The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.

for

A1

Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.

not

A1

A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.

with

A1

A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.

he

A1

A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.

you

A1

Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.

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