repel

verb

re·​pel ri-ˈpel 

repelled; repelling

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

—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

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").

Synonyms

• repulse
• resist

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

Fragrant herbs are often planted around vegetables to repel plant pests and attract pollinators to veggie flowers. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 July 2025

Getting back to the lizards, there are certain scents that can repel lizards. —Joan Morris, Mercury News, 21 July 2025

What scents repel stink bugs? Stink bugs do not like scents like citrus, garlic, clove, and mint. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 July 2025

In the capital Nairobi, Kenyan security forces repelled protesters with tear gas and water cannon hours after blocking major roads leading into the city. —Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 8 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English repellen, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French repeller, borrowed from Latin repellere "to push away, drive back, fend off," from re- re- + pellere "to beat against, push, strike, rouse" — more at pulse entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for repel

• barbell
• bedwell
• befell
• bluebell
• bombshell
• bridewell
• capelle
• cartel
• carvel
• clamshell
• cogswell
• compel

Kids 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