rebarbative

[ ree-bahr-buh-tiv ]

adjective

1. causing annoyance, irritation, or aversion; repellent.

rebarbative

/ rɪˈbɑːbətɪv /

adjective

1. fearsome; forbidding

Word History and Origins

Origin of rebarbative¹

First recorded in 1890–95; from French, feminine of rébarbatif “disagreeable, repugnant,” from Middle French rebarber “to oppose, confront,” literally “to go beard to beard, head to head,” equivalent to ré- re- + barbe “beard,” from Latin barba “beard” ( beard ( def ) ) + -atif -ative

Word History and Origins

Origin of rebarbative¹

C19: from French rébarbatif , from Old French rebarber to repel (an enemy), to withstand (him) face to face, from re- + barbe beard, from Latin barba

Example Sentences

Why not place a bet on Tala Madani, whose desultory drawing and wildly rebarbative conceits might have the impact at the Met that artists like Matisse once had in Paris?

From Washington Post

Setting aside Mr Abbott’s notoriously rebarbative character, the appointment would be consistent with the myth, common among Brexit supporters, that trade deals are conjured into being by swaggering personalities.

From Washington Times

“Many of the apparently rebarbative aspects of Sontag’s personality are clarified in light of the alcoholic family system,” he writes.

From New York Times

“Indeed, many of the apparently rebarbative aspects of Sontag’s personality are clarified in light of the alcoholic family system, as it was later understood,” Moser writes, and he goes on:

From The New Yorker

The work itself, the scholars are aware, is innately rebarbative.

From The New Yorker

Related Words

• aggravating
• annoying
• distressing
• disturbing
• inconvenient
• irritating
• troublesome
• vexing