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
The backlash was swift with many in Germany repelled by the image of a wealthy foreigner meddling in their elections.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025
This approach attracts the right connections and repels the wrong ones.
—Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
In April and again in October, the two sides engaged in direct hostilities, with Iran twice launching massive missile salvoes largely repelled by Israeli and allied air defenses.
—Ali Vaez, Time, 14 June 2025
The volatile oils that give bay leaves their distinct odor and flavors repel flies, moths, cockroaches, and even mice.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for repel
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David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025
This approach attracts the right connections and repels the wrong ones.
—Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
In April and again in October, the two sides engaged in direct hostilities, with Iran twice launching massive missile salvoes largely repelled by Israeli and allied air defenses.
—Ali Vaez, Time, 14 June 2025
The volatile oils that give bay leaves their distinct odor and flavors repel flies, moths, cockroaches, and even mice.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for repel
Cite this Entry
“Repel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repel. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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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