Finding the Opposite Meaning of Repulsive

The question asks us to find the word that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word "repulsive" as used in the sentence: "Macbeth is a morally repulsive character."

First, let's understand the meaning of the word "repulsive".

• Repulsive: Causing intense distaste or disgust; offensive; causing someone to feel strong dislike or aversion. When applied to a character, especially "morally repulsive", it means the character's actions or nature are so bad they evoke feelings of disgust and repulsion in others.

Now let's look at the options provided and their meanings:

• 1. abominable: Causing moral disgust or loathing; detestable; very bad or unpleasant. This word has a meaning very similar to "repulsive", making it a synonym, not an antonym.
• 2. attractive: Pleasing or appealing to the senses or mind; having the capacity to attract; charming. This word describes something that draws people in or is pleasant, which is the opposite of driving people away or causing disgust.
• 3. obnoxious: Extremely unpleasant; offensive; very disagreeable. This word also shares a similar negative meaning with "repulsive", making it a synonym or a closely related term.
• 4. ugly: Unpleasant to look at; morally or otherwise unpleasant or objectionable. While "ugly" can sometimes be used metaphorically for moral unpleasantness, its primary meaning relates to appearance, and it often implies a lack of attractiveness. In the context of "morally repulsive", it is closer in meaning than an opposite.

We are looking for the word opposite in meaning to "repulsive". "Repulsive" means causing disgust and driving away, while "attractive" means causing pleasure or interest and drawing towards.

Let's compare the core ideas:

Clearly, "attractive" is the opposite of "repulsive". A morally repulsive character is someone whose moral qualities are disgusting, whereas a morally attractive character would be someone whose moral qualities are admirable or appealing.

Therefore, the option that is opposite in meaning to "repulsive" is "attractive".

Revision Table: Understanding Vocabulary

Additional Information: Antonyms and Synonyms

Understanding antonyms and synonyms is crucial for building vocabulary and improving comprehension. Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings, while synonyms are words that have similar meanings.

• Identifying antonyms often helps clarify the precise meaning of a word by considering what it is not.
• Words can have multiple meanings or shades of meaning, and their antonyms or synonyms can vary depending on the context in which they are used. In this case, "repulsive" was used in a moral context, and "attractive" fits well as the opposite in that context as well as in others (like physical appearance).
• Context clues within the sentence are important for determining the specific meaning of a word and finding the most appropriate antonym or synonym.