a little repulsive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a little repulsive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is somewhat distasteful or unpleasant, but not overwhelmingly so. Example: "The smell from the garbage was a little repulsive, making it hard to enjoy the picnic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Mr. Martins's dance, a perpetuum mobile of tortuous and torturous partnering, is more than a little repulsive.

The New York Times - Arts

He finds her youthful body divine; she finds his ageing bulk a little repulsive – they compromise with Lenny giving Eunice oral pleasure, which he does with religious seriousness.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Little repulsive force was measured for APTES-functionalized cantilevers to which no cells were attached.

Geochemical Transactions

These parameters indicate that there is a slight repulsive interaction between Chol and POPC, but so little that it would be hard to distinguish from random mixing (Fig. 9 C ); a stronger repulsive interaction between SM and POPC (Fig. 9 B ); and a favorable interaction between SM and Chol (Fig. 9 D ).

Biophysical Journal

The single then receives some airplay and, not being especially repulsive, slides a little deeper into the charts.

The Guardian - Music

"The corridors here look repulsive … " growls Herzog, a little bafflingly.

The Guardian - Film

And both could indeed be true, just as a little salt is attractive but a lot is repulsive.

The Economist

But members of the Charlottesville community, particularly those who feel personally targeted by a repulsive white nationalist mantra, deserve a little more.

Huffington Post

At one point the lone female shows a little boy how to secrete a razor blade in an apple — a scene that's somehow more repulsive than the film's other insertions.

The New York Times

On its Web site, the restaurant seems to delight in the cross-cultural gross-out potential, and leans a little too heavily on Surrealist signposts like Dali and Buñuel, with a nice nod to the former's repulsive ants.

The New Yorker

If the film's spare re-enactments are a little awkward, they also smartly repurpose Dahmer's studied reserve into a meditation on perversion as hypnotic as it is repulsive.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a little repulsive" to express a mild sense of disgust or aversion, avoiding stronger terms when the situation doesn't warrant them. It softens the impact of the adjective, making your statement more nuanced.

Common error

Avoid pairing "a little repulsive" with other intensifiers like 'very' or 'extremely'. This creates redundancy and weakens the intended effect. Choose one modifier for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a little repulsive" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying an adjective. It serves to qualify the degree to which something is considered repulsive. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a little repulsive" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a mild sense of disgust or aversion. Ludwig indicates its correctness and usability. While not as strong as "very repulsive", it provides a nuanced way to describe something that is somewhat unpleasant. Its usage spans across different contexts, including News & Media and Science. Remember to use it judiciously, avoiding redundancy with other intensifiers, for clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly repulsive

Uses a more direct adverb to modify "repulsive".

somewhat repulsive

Employs a different adverb to convey a similar degree of repulsion.

mildly repulsive

Indicates a lower intensity of being repulsive.

a bit repulsive

Uses "bit" instead of "little" to indicate a small degree.

slightly disgusting

Replaces "repulsive" with a synonym that carries a similar connotation.

somewhat distasteful

Indicates something is unpleasant to one's taste or liking.

a little off-putting

Describes something that creates a slight feeling of unease or dislike.

slightly unpleasant

A more general term indicating a minor level of disagreeableness.

a touch repulsive

Replaces "little" with "touch" to indicate a small amount.

barely repulsive

Suggests the repulsiveness is only just perceptible.

FAQs

How can I use "a little repulsive" in a sentence?

You can use "a little repulsive" to describe something that is mildly distasteful or unpleasant. For example, "The stale odor in the room was "a little repulsive"".

What are some alternatives to saying "a little repulsive"?

Alternatives include "slightly disgusting", "somewhat distasteful", or "a bit off-putting", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a little repulsive" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a little repulsive" might be perceived as informal. Consider using more precise and sophisticated language in formal contexts, such as "somewhat objectionable" or "mildly unpleasant".

What's the difference between "a little repulsive" and "very repulsive"?

"A little repulsive" indicates a mild degree of aversion, while "very repulsive" suggests a strong and intense feeling of disgust. The choice depends on the intensity of the feeling you wish to express.