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
Fill the hot water, add a small amount of dish soap, and a disinfecting spray to repel odors and maintain bacteria at bay.
—
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 11 July 2025
The massive aerial assault involved 728 drones and 13 missiles, Ukraine’s Air Force said, eclipsing the previous record number of 539 drones, set on July 4, by hundreds – but it was largely repelled, with the damage limited and no immediate reports of deaths.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 9 July 2025
That same year Russia was also struggling to repel Ukraine’s military incursion into Kursk, with some 15 battalions lost in Kursk alone.
—Natasha Lindstaedt, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, the Ukrainian military repelled the Russian assault on Kyiv and went on to retake more than half the territory that Russian forces initially seized.
—Jon Finer, Foreign Affairs, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for repel
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 11 July 2025
The massive aerial assault involved 728 drones and 13 missiles, Ukraine’s Air Force said, eclipsing the previous record number of 539 drones, set on July 4, by hundreds – but it was largely repelled, with the damage limited and no immediate reports of deaths.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 9 July 2025
That same year Russia was also struggling to repel Ukraine’s military incursion into Kursk, with some 15 battalions lost in Kursk alone.
—Natasha Lindstaedt, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, the Ukrainian military repelled the Russian assault on Kyiv and went on to retake more than half the territory that Russian forces initially seized.
—Jon Finer, Foreign Affairs, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for repel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repel
Verb
-
In Liberia, especially, the Peace Corps volunteers were repulsed by the ways that Americo-Liberians — the descendants of the Black Americans who founded the country — oppressed indigenous ethnic groups.—
Jonathan Zimmerman,
New York Daily News,
16 July 2025
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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
Verb
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Many Americans are demonstrably disgusted, shamed, and angered by their tyrants, but mainstream literary and intellectual institutions seem unable or unwilling to give voice to them.—
Pankaj Mishra,
Harpers Magazine,
16 July 2025
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Interestingly enough, by 1920 Jarvis was disgusted with how commercialized Mother's Day had become.—
Grace Tucker,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Verb
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All good people, regardless of fundamental beliefs, need to vigorously, with courage, resist the sickness that is Trump and MAGA.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 July 2025
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Trump had for months resisted pressure from Kyiv and NATO allies to turn the screw on Putin, engaging directly with Russia and distancing from Ukraine in the hopes that smoothing U.S. relations with Moscow would bring about a rapid end to the war.—
Shane Croucher
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 July 2025
Verb
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In Tennessee, the outbreak has sickened between 1-2 people, according to the FDA.—
Diana Leyva,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
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Last month, the FDA announced a recall of cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales due to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened 45 people and hospitalized 16 across 18 states.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
7 June 2025
Verb
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This is apt when considering the impacts of the Trump administration’s policy agenda, which has generated various opposing forces on economic growth this year.—
Jeffrey Schulze,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
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Washington County Treasurer and task force Chair Scott Henke said three of the five task force members opposed Accel's plan.—
Kelly Meyerhofer,
jsonline.com,
15 July 2025
Verb
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That means revising credit and insurance models, investing in soil and water resilience, and funding diversified food systems that can withstand disruption.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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The education programs likely can't withstand a review that stretches into the school year, state education leaders say.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Repel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repel. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
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