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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 Most claims about cornstarch in gardening, such as repelling ants or boosting water retention, lack scientific evidence. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2026 Reseeding helps block weed growth, repel lawn diseases, slow soil erosion, and strengthen growth in bare patches. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026 As mentioned above, Turkey’s deployment of TB2s in the country’s civil war in 2020 proved decisive, with these drones helping break the LNA’s siege on Tripoli and empowering GNA ground forces to repel Haftar’s fighters. — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 This is more than a sophisticated arms race aimed at repelling threats and protecting borders. — Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 27 Aug. 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
  • Young people just aren’t interested, partly because they’re repulsed by bodily fluids.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
  • His recent comments didn’t favor the Browns fanbase, and many Cleveland fans seem viscerally repulsed by him.
    — Andy Behrens, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of repulse
Verb
  • Harrity, who is open about his own recovery, is troubled and disgusted by police believing Horsch preyed on women struggling with addiction.
    — Joe Holden, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • There are a lot of reasons to be disgusted with the Cowboys for their season-opening stink fest.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of disgust
Verb
  • The actor resists framing her character as either predator or victim.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026
  • In fairness, the compulsion to go full-on Chicken Little is hard to resist.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of resist
Verb
  • Before the vaccine became available in 1963, measles sickened 3 million to 4 million people and led to about 500 deaths every year in the United States.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Last year, another Legionnaires' outbreak in Harlem killed seven people and sickened dozens of others.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of sicken
Verb
  • Activists who have opposed the closure said there has been no vehicle or pedestrian access to the building Wednesday.
    — MATTHEW DALY, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
  • La Opinión grew during this period, strengthening its commitment to civic journalism by opposing Proposition 187 and promoting citizenship and immigrant rights.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of oppose
Verb
  • Coating simplifies battery production Battery components must withstand demanding manufacturing and operating conditions.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Researchers hope roots like these could help crops withstand some effects of climate change while also drawing more carbon from the atmosphere and storing it underground.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Sep. 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 22 Sep. 2026.

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