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

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

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 Even some supporters of capital punishment, including a number of Republican lawmakers, seemed repelled by the prospect. — Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026 The most water-repelling plastics, polyethylene and polypropylene, were the most reactive, and PET and acrylic were the least reactive. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 14 Oct. 2026 During wetter years, trees are healthier and can more easily repel the beetle with sap. — Jennifer Oldham, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026 The wax repels liquid water but keeps tiny pores, so vapor can still escape. — New Atlas, 4 Oct. 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
  • Her widowed aunt plays chaperone as Susanna attends heady lectures and repulses her many suitors.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Young people just aren’t interested, partly because they’re repulsed by bodily fluids.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of repulse
Verb
  • Kaufhold thinks that something might be a heightened sensitivity to disgust.
    — Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Janice was disgusted; Mary was emotionally devastated and financially ruined.
    — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of disgust
Verb
  • Anthropic researchers demonstrated this weakness by using Claude to generate seemingly innocent stories that taught other models to resist human oversight.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Judges failing to award fees and government agencies unreasonably resisting paying them make the problem even worse.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of resist
Verb
  • The finding also comes on the heels of a record-breaking cyclospora outbreak this summer that sickened 12,883 people across 21 states, hospitalized at least 570 and was associated with two deaths in Michigan.
    — Megan R. Wilson, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Flu season has arrived early this year, with a new variant of the virus already sickening thousands and sending many to the hospital.
    — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of sicken
Verb
  • Pass Amendment 3 to curb spending abuse Much has been printed here about why voters should oppose the adoption of Amendment 3.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Campaigns gave short shrift to Palestinian issues Israelis are largely opposed to a Palestinian state.
    — Giovanna Dell'Orto, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of oppose
Verb
  • Russia’s deep industrial reserves and Ukraine’s impressive adaptation have shown that complex energy systems can withstand enormous damage.
    — Tatiana Mitrova, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Sourcing is becoming less about finding the lowest-cost manufacturing option and more about building a supply chain that can withstand constant change.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of withstand

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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 1 Nov. 2026.

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