1
as in to repulse
to drive back
the defenders repelled the attacking army after several hours of fierce fighting
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of repel
According to the brand, the string lights must be installed within 10 feet of the ground to repel insects.
—
Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 June 2025
But Israel, backed by the U.S. military and other partners, repelled those attacks and incurred little damage.
—Afshon Ostovar, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2025
Iran has issued a warning to the U.S. and its allies not to help Israel repel its retaliatory attacks.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 June 2025
Garlic and onions make good companion plants for peppers because their strong scent repels pests.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for repel
Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 June 2025
But Israel, backed by the U.S. military and other partners, repelled those attacks and incurred little damage.
—Afshon Ostovar, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2025
Iran has issued a warning to the U.S. and its allies not to help Israel repel its retaliatory attacks.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 June 2025
Garlic and onions make good companion plants for peppers because their strong scent repels pests.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for repel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repel
Verb
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After a disastrous trip to Mexico where Irina appeared repulsed by everything Zack did, the couple split and Zack went crawling back to Bliss.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
13 June 2025
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Clearly repulsed by the ravages of war, Lear kept the girl a secret, presumably went AWOL, and created new identities for them.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
13 May 2025
Verb
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Now people bothered by the insects have another reason to be disgusted by them.—
Chad Murphy,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
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The judge, though disgusted at her antics, still stands firm in his decision to give the prosecution access to those records because the reports about the divorce are still accessible to the jury.—
Ayan Artan,
Vulture,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But the big challenge for Świątek, resisting a reversion to the baseline aggression when matches get stressful, also gets magnified on grass, where sets can disappear in minutes and errors rack up more easily and quickly.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
5 July 2025
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The Supreme Court upheld that ruling and ordered the administration to begin the process of releasing him, but officials resisted bringing him back until he was indicted on the human smuggling charges in May.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
4 July 2025
Verb
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Cucumbers are being recalled nationwide after a salmonella outbreak sickened 26 people and hospitalized nine across 15 states, including Tennessee.—
Diana Leyva,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
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So far, people in two states have reported being sickened from the product, according to the FDA and the CDA. Minnesota (three people) New Jersey (one person) What pistachio cream is being recalled?—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
18 June 2025
Verb
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is set to meet with Trump in Washington on Monday, is pulled between the US and his allies on the far right who oppose a ceasefire.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
6 July 2025
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Veteran righthander Cal Quantrill will take the mound on Saturday, opposing Brewers rookie Chad Patrick in Game 2 of the series.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
5 July 2025
Verb
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To incorporate some functionality into your al fresco dining plans (or at least, to account for the youngest members of the guest list), the key is picking out a dining set that can withstand a little wear and tear.—
Elly Leavitt,
Vogue,
4 July 2025
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Few organisms can withstand the scalding waters, as one poor bison recently discovered.—
Monica Cull,
Discover Magazine,
4 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Repel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repel. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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