repel

verb

re·pel | \ ri-ˈpel

repelled; repelling

Definition of repel

transitive verb

1a : to drive back : repulse

b : to fight against : resist

2 : turn away, reject repelled the insinuation

3a : to drive away : discourage foul words and frowns must not repel a lover— William 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

Other Words from repel Synonyms When to Use Repel More Example Sentences Learn More about repel

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When to Use Repel

Since re- can mean not just "again" but also "back", repel means "drive back". Repel has two common adjective forms; thus, a repellent or repulsive odor may drive us into the other room. Its main noun form is repulsion. Magnets exhibit both attraction and repulsion, and the goal of an armed defense is the repulsion of an enemy; but we generally use repulsion to mean "strong dislike". In recent years, repulse has been increasingly used as a synonym for repel ("That guy repulses me").

Examples of repel in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

According to a 2009 study, there are two unique types of antioxidants in cranberries — anthocyanidin and proanthocyanidin — which are thought to be what repels the bacteria in the bladder. — Julie Mazziotta, PEOPLE.com, "Do Cranberries REALLY Help with Urinary Tract Infections? An OB-GYN Sets the Record Straight," 4 June 2019 Citronella candles are much stronger than their plant counterpart, and other mosquito repelling products will most likely still be needed if your yard is extra buggy in the warmer months. — Elizabeth Gulino, House Beautiful, "You Can Buy These Mosquito-Repelling Plants For Less Than $10 Each on Amazon," 14 May 2019 Although dramatic, that accurately describes your GI tract's ultra-thin barrier, which allows nutrients from food to pass through and repels toxins. — Beth Janes, Good Housekeeping, "Everything You Need to Know About Probiotics, According to Experts," 11 May 2019 Try these top tips for repelling squirrels naturally. — Jill Gleeson, Country Living, "How to Keep Squirrels Out of Your Garden," 30 Jan. 2019 In Knoxville, Tennessee, armed black men organized themselves to successfully repel hundreds of white rioters who had already destroyed the county jail with a battering ram and dynamite. — Ursula Wolfe-rocca, Teen Vogue, "The Red Summer of 1919, Explained," 8 Apr. 2019 At one point, the full group repeatedly surges forward, only to be constantly repelled backward. — Karen Campbell, BostonGlobe.com, "A moving ‘Vessel,’ in more ways than one," 29 June 2018 For the first, the gecko combines surface slapping and surface tension, aided by their unique hydrophobic skin that repels water, according to Nirody. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Geckos’ new superpower is running on water; now we know how they do it," 6 Dec. 2018 Such is the perfume that seems to trail after this writer and his books, a smell that repels yet holds an uneasy and undeniable attraction. — Sam Sacks, WSJ, "Fiction: The Union of Death and Desire," 22 Nov. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'repel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.