1
as in to repulse
to drive back
the defenders repelled the attacking army after several hours of fierce fighting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to disgust
to cause to feel disgust
the idea of chocolate-covered grasshoppers repels me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to resist
to refuse to give in to
repelled the temptation to stay out late and call in sick the next day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of repel
The approval centers on restoring the country’s capacity to absorb and repel prolonged waves of missile and aerial threats, particularly those targeting critical infrastructure and military installations.
—
Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 3 May 2026
Ukrainian forces shot down and repelled 249 drones, while hits from ballistic missiles and 19 drones were recorded in 15 locations, the air force said in a Facebook update.
—ABC News, 3 May 2026
White, green, purple, blue and gray tend to repel.
—Ryan Brennan
may 1, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
In turn, basil can repel tomato pests such as hornworms.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for repel
Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 3 May 2026
Ukrainian forces shot down and repelled 249 drones, while hits from ballistic missiles and 19 drones were recorded in 15 locations, the air force said in a Facebook update.
—ABC News, 3 May 2026
White, green, purple, blue and gray tend to repel.
—Ryan Brennan
may 1, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
In turn, basil can repel tomato pests such as hornworms.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for repel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repel
Verb
-
Anyone who has worked in or observed the media industry for the last couple of decades will recognize and be repulsed by nepo-baby Jay, who is undeniably villainous.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Floyd, distraught by his own physical failures, is nevertheless repulsed by the sight of Carol in her big, burly ump gear.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The researchers also found that being young, female, and well educated increased the odds that someone would be moist averse, as did being disgusted more generally by bodily functions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Some were disgusted, while others were filled with joy.—
Amethyst Martinez,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Many Jewish people across the world are Zionists, and so there is a temptation, which needs to be resisted, to hold Jewish people across the world responsible for the misdeeds of Israel.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
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Sometimes, that requires making small but meaningful adjustments, like warming washcloths for a patient who resists basic care.—
Nancy Badertscher,
AJC.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Of the six people sickened, hantavirus was confirmed in one case and is suspected in five others, the World Health Organization said in a statement Sunday.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
3 May 2026
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In 2025, an outbreak sickened more than 500 people in 48 states, with 125 people hospitalized and two deaths.—
Jonel Aleccia,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That means cutting federal regulations driving up housing costs, lowering the tax burden on working families, opposing any new gas or vehicle mileage taxes and cutting reckless spending that drives inflation.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
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The Moon in Capricorn moves through your 10th House of Career, opposing Jupiter in your 4th, highlighting that tension.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Few teams could withstand such an injury, and Dallas wasn’t one of them.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
-
That week, nobody talked about anything but the lead-up to the big challenge in which Bukele and La Choly would see who could withstand the jolts of that bumpy musical fairground ride, which tries to shake off its passengers.—
Óscar Martínez,
The Dial,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repel. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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