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
Some flowers, like marigolds and nasturtiums, have proven pest-repelling abilities.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026
Wade Wilson confessed to the savage murders of two women, yet even that brutality failed to repel admirers.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 15 Feb. 2026
Another white woman my father spoke with rejected the Manasseh Club because she was repelled by members’ fixation on light skin.
—Dorothy Roberts, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
The driver used bear spray to repel the suspect and drove away to a safe location, the Sheriff’s Office said.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for repel
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026
Wade Wilson confessed to the savage murders of two women, yet even that brutality failed to repel admirers.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 15 Feb. 2026
Another white woman my father spoke with rejected the Manasseh Club because she was repelled by members’ fixation on light skin.
—Dorothy Roberts, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
The driver used bear spray to repel the suspect and drove away to a safe location, the Sheriff’s Office said.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for repel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repel
Verb
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Charlie, though, is trying to keep them out of a country that thoroughly repulses him.—
Alexander Nazaryan,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
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And Republicans are among those repulsed by the ongoing scandals.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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More disturbingly, some MAGA cultural warriors claimed to be disgusted by Bad Bunny’s suggestive dancing and called for his censorship, harking back to the 1950s, when emerging superstar Elvis Presley was shot by TV cameras from the waist up during his appearance at the Ed Sullivan show.—
Ediberto Roman,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
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In one of those realities (the actual one most of us are living in), a growing number of people across the political spectrum are angered, terrified and disgusted by actions being taken in their names by people and agencies which seem to have little or no accountability.—
Brenda Looper,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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He was arrested and booked into Imperial County Jail on suspicion of murder and resisting a peace officer.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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Yoon was first detained in January 2025 after resisting attempts to arrest him in a weeks-long standoff with authorities at his home in Seoul.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Samoan officials later said Kennedy’s trip bolstered the credibility of anti-vaccine activists before the measles outbreak, which sickened thousands of people and killed 83, mostly children under age 5.—
Matt Brown,
Fortune,
10 Feb. 2026
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Two people were sickened during a rideshare package pickup Monday night in the Logan Square neighborhood, Chicago police said.—
Deanese Williams-Harris,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Paniotto said that most Ukrainians oppose holding elections – not only during the war, but even during any kind of temporary ceasefire.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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Rather, they are required to provide such opportunities if legally qualified opposing candidates request it.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The logic runs like this — these microbes have spent tens of thousands of years developing biological mechanisms to withstand freezing temperatures.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
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The company says these materials have been chosen to withstand years of use.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repel. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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