repel

verb

ri-ˈpel How to pronounce repel (audio)
Definition of repelnext
1
as in to repulse
to drive back the defenders repelled the attacking army after several hours of fierce fighting

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to disgust
to cause to feel disgust the idea of chocolate-covered grasshoppers repels me

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of repel The buildings —critical to the AI boom driving intense investment — have repelled voters due to their massive energy and water demand. — Garrett Downs, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026 In this family, Shigejiro seemed to be cloaked in a waterproof tarpaulin that repelled the currents of misfortune. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 Citronella, lemongrass, cinnamon, and other botanical extracts may repel mosquitoes to some degree. — Angela Haupt, Time, 3 Aug. 2026 Insecticidal soaps, on the other hand, are made to be used on plants and can kill or repel insects without harming plants. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for repel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repel
  1. repulse
  2. disgust
  3. resist
  4. sicken
  5. oppose
  6. withstand
Verb
  • Most Americans are repulsed by the core ideas of radical leftists.
    — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Philly may be shedding its second-fiddle status, but it remains entirely repulsed by frauds and underachievers.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
Definition of repulse
Verb
  • In 2017, the Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine went to a team of French researchers who used advanced brain-scanning technology to measure the extent to which some people are disgusted by fromage.
    — Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2026
  • Kim The call left Kim Grindell disgusted, furious and wracked with guilt.
    — Rich Schapiro, NBC news, 20 June 2026
Definition of disgust
Verb
  • Refusing to step out when instructed can lead to charges like interfering with public duties or resisting detention, even if the underlying stop was for a minor violation.
    — Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Roq Innovation Raquel Graham dreamed up NEKZ, a scarf alternative, when her children resisted wearing them during Chicago’s frigid winters.
    — Elaine Pofeldt, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of resist
Verb
  • Key Background This is the second voluntary recall Taylor Farms has conducted in recent weeks, after lettuce from the produce company was linked to the cyclospora outbreak that has sickened tens of thousands of people across the country.
    — Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • However, Ormund is sickened by the blood spurting in his eyes, and Roddy turns the tables, using his remaining hand to stick a knife well into Ormund's backside.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of sicken
Verb
  • Friday provided a brief but clear reminder of what kind of headache that could be for opposing defensive coordinators.
    — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • But that also will be two months after the Bucks play in Miami, when Giannis will be in opposing colors for the first time in his career.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of oppose
Verb
  • Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent but is particularly ill-equipped to withstand heat, due to older infrastructure and a lack of air conditioning.
    — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Whether the church’s assertions withstand analytic scrutiny is a different question.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of withstand

Browse Nearby Words

repeats
repel
repelled
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Cite this Entry

“Repel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repel. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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