repelled; repelling
3
a
: to drive away : discourage
Foul words and frowns must not repel a lover …—
William Shakespeare
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
: to cause aversion
repeller
noun
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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
While plants such as peppermint, spearmint, and other scented plants in the mint family will repel squirrels and make your garden less of a tempting dining spot due to their strong aroma, mint is not a long-term solution and will most likely only work for a short period of time.
—Molly Burford, Southern Living, 6 June 2026
Wear long clothes when outside, use bug spray that contains DEET to repel ticks, stay out of overgrown grass or brush and check for ticks immediately after being out in nature.
—Dan Simms, USA Today, 4 June 2026
State security forces repelled attacks on their positions and launched investigations to identify those responsible for organizing, financing and carrying out the violence, police said.
—ABC News, 4 June 2026
Count on the strong aromatic oils of oregano (Origanum vulgare) to naturally repel aphids, spider mites, thrips, and beetles around your pepper plants.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for repel
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Molly Burford, Southern Living, 6 June 2026
Wear long clothes when outside, use bug spray that contains DEET to repel ticks, stay out of overgrown grass or brush and check for ticks immediately after being out in nature.
—Dan Simms, USA Today, 4 June 2026
State security forces repelled attacks on their positions and launched investigations to identify those responsible for organizing, financing and carrying out the violence, police said.
—ABC News, 4 June 2026
Count on the strong aromatic oils of oregano (Origanum vulgare) to naturally repel aphids, spider mites, thrips, and beetles around your pepper plants.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for repel
Cite this Entry
“Repel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repel. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
repel
verb
re·pel
ri-ˈpel 
repelled; repelling
1
a
: to drive back
repel the enemy
b
: to fight against : resist
2
: to refuse to accept : reject
repel a suggestion
3
a
: to be incapable of sticking to, mixing with, taking up, or holding
a fabric that repels water
b
: to force away or apart or tend to do so by mutual action at a distance
two like electrical charges repel each other
4
: disgust
a sight that repelled everyone
repeller
noun
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