rebarbative UK /ɹɪˈbɑːbətɪv/US /ɹɪˈbɑɹbətɪv/ adjective1 •Irritating, repellent.I know there are few things more rebarbative than parents who insist, usually against all the evidence, that their children are the bees’ knees, but something seems to have turned out fine. — 2009 formsmore rebarbative · most rebarbative