repulse

1 of 2

verb

re·​pulse ri-ˈpəls 

repulsed; repulsing

transitive verb

1

: to drive or beat back : repel

2

: to repel by discourtesy, coldness, or denial

3

: to cause repulsion in

repulse

2 of 2

noun

1

: rebuff, rejection

2

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

Synonyms

Verb

• disgust
• gross out
• nauseate
• put off
• repel
• revolt
• sicken
• turn off

Noun

• brush-off
• cold shoulder
• rebuff
• silent treatment
• 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

The obvious solution—getting a proper job—is, for Jack, a non-starter: conventional work repulses him. —Peter C. Baker, New Yorker, 11 May 2025

Image In the novel, Pabst starts off physically repulsed by the mere idea of working for the Reich, but gradually comes around. —David Segal, New York Times, 30 Apr. 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