repellent vs repellant

Both 'repellent' and 'repellant' are correct spellings in English, but they are used in different contexts. 'Repellent' is more commonly used in American English to describe substances that repel insects or other pests. On the other hand, 'repellant' is more commonly used in British English as an adjective to describe something that repels or keeps away. Both spellings are acceptable, but the choice may depend on the variant of English being used.

Last updated: March 31, 2024 • 1163 views

This is a correct spelling in American English to describe substances that repel insects or other pests.

"repellent"

The term 'repellent' is commonly used in American English to refer to substances that repel insects, pests, or other unwanted things.

Examples:

She sprayed insect repellent before going camping.
The repellent smell kept the pests away from the garden.

Show examples from the web [+]

Weakness is repellent to women and anathema to success.
Member States shall ensure that authorisations shall contain an effective dog repellent agent.
It is to us that the sad, distressing, repellent duty falls, gentlemen.
The idea that he may have been involved with the attempted murder... of Ambassador Kosh, is repellent to everyone here.
I find it repellent, my liege.
The thought of you sitting in a darkened theater with a character like Stuart is repellent.
To hear you speak ill of him... is repellent.
The thought of breaking up someone's family... was absolutely repellent to me, honestly.
It was that repellent we sprayed in the coyote den to keep other animals out.
The most intolerable and repellent of them all?
She was rather podgy and extremely repellent, but I just wanted to get my end away.
I am about to do something so repellent... that it sickens me to my very core.
No, nothing is more repellent than magicians
It's one of the few forms of interaction with people that I don't find repellent.
I find the term 'honour killing' particularly repellent, because there is nothing honourable about it.
The repellent and its degradation products shall either:
The silver coins are a good repellent, but we have to find a way to kill this thing.
The repellent and its degradation products shall be readily andor inherently biodegradable and non-bioaccumulative in the aquatic environment, including aquatic sediment.
You are the most repellent man I've ever met, even if you are a genius.
Well, apparently that's where you wife is, and that's the repellent gentleman who owns her.

Alternatives:

insect repellent
mosquito repellent
bug repellent
pest repellent
rodent repellent

This is a correct spelling in British English as an adjective to describe something that repels or keeps away.

"repellant"

The term 'repellant' is commonly used in British English as an adjective to describe something that repels or keeps away.

Examples:

The strong smell was repellant to most people.
His attitude was repellant and drove people away.

Show examples from the web [+]

People, there is no need to worry. I have developed the perfect bedbug repellant.
What? No, it's an organic custom pest repellant formulated for my body chemistry.
Sprays it on like it's insect repellant.
You are the most repellant of creatures, Scorpius.
Give me one pilot we've got that isn't totally repellant.
Hear how repellant, how disgusting...
I'm sorry, but it's repellant to me, so much of what you believe.
If you can't buy straight up sulfide dioxide, you can make it with insect repellant and toilet cleaner.
That prospect seems quite repellant to us and we wonder how it can even be included in the preparatory documents for the Amsterdam European Council.
You have sunscreen and insect repellant?
And there is something in this mandate which is deeply repellant to anyone who knows the law, because it cannot be measured, be examined, in terms of employment and competitiveness, important as they both are.
Function, e.g. fungicide, herbicide, insecticide, repellant, growth regulator.
Is it because I find you repellant in every way?
Why do you always want repellant?
Rain repellant and removal;
Who said fly repellant?
So the woods are a no-no for me unless I bathe in repellant, which I- don't worry, Bob.
The candles are insect repellant and then we can review the research I did for our lamaze class.
Despite being tempted by the Nano-Tex repellant, I'm actually not here for a tie, Ben.
Language, arithmetic, science and social studies reference books, along with my sleep-study set. I also have mosquito repellant, a bellywarmer and a pillow.

Alternatives:

repelling
repulsive
off-putting
disgusting
offensive

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repellent vs repellant

"repellent"

"repellant"

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