repulse

1 of 2

verb

re·​pulse ri-ˈpəls 

repulsed; repulsing

transitive verb

1

: to drive or beat back : repel

repulsed the invaders

2

: to repel by discourtesy, coldness, or denial

They repulsed all efforts to befriend them.

3

: to cause repulsion in

was repulsed by the movie's violence

repulse

2 of 2

noun

1

: rebuff, rejection

2

: the action of repelling an attacker : the fact of being repelled

Synonyms of repulse

Verb

• disgust
• sicken
• repel
• appall
• horrify

Noun

• dismissal
• rebuff
• rejection
• snub

Examples of repulse in a Sentence

Verb

The troops repulsed the attack.

I was repulsed by the movie's violence.

The moldy bread repulsed him.

He repulsed all attempts to help him.

Noun

the waiter's incredibly rude repulse of our polite request for a better table—one that wasn't right next to the kitchen—prompted us to walk out

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Of course, one major qualifier for this is the fact there are plenty of reasons for even moderate Democrats to be repulsed at the idea of electing Cuomo. —The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 23 Oct. 2025

His family, dependent on his income and repulsed at what has become of their son, must then determine what is to be done with poor Gregor. —Big Think, 14 Oct. 2025

Noun

Larger than life, his creation repulses and torments him, and Victor spends the rest of his life both running from it and trying to destroy it. —Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

The optical, stop-motion, and puppetry effects alone should make Brain Damage a priority on your watchlist, but Henenlotter’s film excites and repulses on a deeper level. —Rory Doherty, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English repulsen "to hold back, drive away," probably in part borrowed from Latin repulsus, past participle of repellere "to push away, drive back, fend off," in part borrowed from Middle French repulser "to drive back, put an end to," borrowed from Latin repulsāre "to drive back, repudiate," frequentative of repellere — more at repel

Noun

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, "action of pushing back, rejection," borrowed in part from Latin repulsa "electoral defeat, check, rebuff" (noun derivative from feminine of repulsus, past participle of repellere "to push away, drive back, fend off"), in part from repulsus "action of forcing back," verbal noun from repellere — more at repel

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for repulse

• convulse
• dulce
• pulse

Kids Definition

repulse

1 of 2 verb

re·​pulse ri-ˈpəls 

repulsed; repulsing

1

: to drive or beat back : repel

repulse an attack

2

: to cause dislike or disgust in

repulse

2 of 2 noun

1

: a cold unfriendly rejection

2

: the action of driving back an attacker