Revulsion is a powerful feeling of disgust or horror that makes you want to turn away from something. When you feel revulsion, your whole body reacts: your stomach might turn, you might make a face, and you instinctively want to get away from whatever's causing the feeling.

You might feel revulsion when you see something genuinely gross, like rotting food or a particularly nasty mess. Some people feel revulsion at the sight of blood or certain insects. The word describes something stronger than just “ew” or mild dislike: it's that intense, almost physical reaction of disgust.

Your body literally wants to pull away from the source. When someone recoils in revulsion, they're experiencing this strong combination of disgust and the urge to escape.

People can also feel revulsion toward ideas or behaviors they find deeply wrong or disturbing. Someone might feel revulsion at cruelty or dishonesty, not because it looks gross, but because it violates their sense of what's right. This shows how revulsion isn't just about physical disgust: it can be a moral or emotional reaction too.