[Romulus]

On the distinction between repellent and repulsive, thus sayeth Fowler: “That is repellent which keeps one at arm’s length; that is repulsive from which one recoils; that is, the second is a much stronger word.”

[eastsider]

Also, the antonym of the verb to thrill on thesaurus com is to repulse. I think Jonathan Turley was simply trying to use as neutral a word as possible. Thanks for weighing in with Fowler, Romulus, and God bless.