repugnant to + person
Showing strong dislike or moral opposition
Use to after repugnant to describe what someone finds offensive or unacceptable.
The idea was repugnant to the committee.
How to use repugnant with prepositions
Repugnant is usually followed by to when describing something offensive, unacceptable, or morally opposed to someone.
Quick answer
Most common pattern
The standard pattern is repugnant to + person, principle, or feeling. Other combinations such as repugnant in, repugnant for, and repugnant about are not standard after the adjective itself.
Cruelty is repugnant to her values.
The proposal seemed repugnant to many voters.
Such behaviour is repugnant to basic fairness.
The proposal seemed repugnant to many voters.
Such behaviour is repugnant to basic fairness.
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
repugnant to + principle
Describing conflict with values or standards
Use to when something goes against a belief, rule, or moral principle.
Dishonesty is repugnant to the organisation's code.
repugnant as + noun
Using as in a different grammatical role
As is possible when it introduces a role or description, not as the selected preposition after repugnant.
He was described as repugnant by critics.
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
repugnant to
The policy is repugnant to democratic values.
Standard and idiomatic for moral opposition or disgust.
repugnant in
There was nothing repugnant in his tone.
In introduces a separate detail or area, not a fixed adjective pattern.
repugnant for
The act was repugnant for religious reasons.
For explains a reason; it is not the normal complement after repugnant.
repugnant about
What is repugnant about the plan is its secrecy.
About belongs to the clause after repugnant, not directly to the adjective.
repugnant as
The character was portrayed as repugnant.
As introduces a role or description rather than following the adjective directly.
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Using in as the main complement
Repugnant normally takes to, not in.
✕ The idea is repugnant in me. ✓ The idea is repugnant to me.Using for after repugnant
For may express reason, but not the normal complement of repugnant.
✕ Violence is repugnant for civilized people. ✓ Violence is repugnant to civilized people.Confusing as with the adjective pattern
As can describe a role, but it does not replace to after repugnant.
✕ The proposal is repugnant as voters. ✓ The proposal is repugnant to voters.Quick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. The suggestion was repugnant ___ her sense of justice.
2. What is repugnant ___ the scheme is the lack of transparency.
3. The behaviour seemed repugnant ___ many employees.
Check your sentence in context
Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.
Free to try · No signup required
Frequently asked questions
Is repugnant to the standard expression?
Yes. Repugnant to is the usual and idiomatic pattern in modern English.
Can I say repugnant about?
Only when about introduces another clause or phrase, such as what is repugnant about the idea.
Is repugnant as correct?
As can appear in structures like described as repugnant, but not as the normal complement after the adjective.
Related preposition guides
Write with confidence in Linguix
Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.
