repel

re·pel

verb \ri-ˈpel\

re·pelledre·pel·ling

Definition of REPEL

transitive verb

1

a : to drive back : repulse b : to fight against : resist

2

: turn away, reject <repelled the insinuation>

3

a : to drive away : discourage <foul words and frowns must not repel a lover — Shakespeare> b : to be incapable of adhering to, mixing with, taking up, or holding c : to force away or apart or tend to do so by mutual action at a distance

4

: to cause aversion in : disgust

intransitive verb

: to cause aversion

— re·pel·ler noun

Examples of REPEL

1. a fabric that repels water
2. Their superior forces repelled the invasion.
3. Two positive electrical charges repel each other.
4. Magnets can both repel and attract one another.

Origin of REPEL

Middle English repellen, from Middle French repeller, from Latin repellere, from re- + pellere to drive — more at felt

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to REPEL

Synonyms: beat off, fend (off), rebut, repulse, stave off, turn away, turn back

Antonyms: bow (to), capitulate (to), give in (to), knuckle under (to), stoop (to), submit (to), succumb (to), surrender (to), yield (to)

Related Words: defy, fight, hold off, oppose, resist, stand off, withstand; deflect, ward (off); rebuff, snub, spurn

Near Antonyms: embrace, hail, welcome

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with REPEL

band shell, barbell, Becquerel, Blackwell, bluebell, bombshell, bridewell, cadelle, cartel, chandelle, Chanel, clamshell, compel, cormel, cornel, corral, cowbell, cupel, diel, dispel, doorbell, dry cell, dry well, dumbbell, duxelles, ear shell, eggshell, excel, expel, farewell, fat cell, foretell, fuel cell, gazelle, germ cell, Glaspell, gromwell, groundswell, half shell, handbell, hard sell, hard-shell, harebell, hotel, impel, indwell, inkwell, Jarrell, jurel, Kandel, lampshell, lapel, Mandel, marcel, maxwell, Maxwell, micelle, misspell, morel, motel, nacelle, nerve cell, Nobel, noel, nouvelle, nutshell, oil well, Orel, Orwell, outsell, pall-mall, Parnell, pastel, pell-mell, pixel, pointelle, Ponselle, presell, propel, quenelle, rakehell, rappel, Ravel, rebel, refel, respell, retell, riel, rondel, Roswell, saurel, scalpel, seashell, sequel, sleigh bell, soft sell, soft-shell, solgel, speedwell, spinel, stairwell, star shell, stem cell, tooth shell, unsell, unwell, upwell, wind-bell