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 This is more than a sophisticated arms race aimed at repelling threats and protecting borders. — Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026 The yarn itself is hydrophobic and will repel water, while a low-slung, gator-like cuff likewise denies access to debris. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026 At least two of the posts Ament shared referenced using bacon to repel or keep away Muslims. — Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 25 Aug. 2026 The drawback of using essential oils to repel flies is that their efficacy is short-lived. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 21 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
  • 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
  • Most Americans are repulsed by the core ideas of radical leftists.
    — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of repulse
Verb
  • Allie, in particular, is disgusted by the men who treat her as functionally interchangeable with any other available, able-bodied woman.
    — Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
  • If the polls are any indication, Americans in general are disgusted with Washington’s Israel policy.
    — Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of disgust
Verb
  • Its rugged silicone exterior is IP67-rated to resist water, dust, and drops, while the flexible utility strap easily clips onto backpacks, handlebars, or coolers.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Lee and his Burning co-writer Oh Jung-mi resist what might have been the first instinct of many filmmakers by refusing to make Ye-ji and Sang-woo overly patronizing rich jerks.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of resist
Verb
  • In July, Taylor Farms de Mexico recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced in Mexico from 27 states following a cyclospora outbreak that has sickened 18,445 people since the beginning of May.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Excessive nitrogen and phosphorus, leading to algae blooms that can kill fish and sicken people.
    — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of sicken
Verb
  • In Florida, a federal court allowed FIFA to intervene and oppose UEFA’s discovery request, and its opposition is due by the end of the month.
    — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The superintendent, Chris Ragsdale, compared people who oppose book banning to people who support human trafficking.
    — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of oppose
Verb
  • Engineers will study how those pathways can fit within components that must withstand operational loads.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The solution, then, is to use products specifically formulated to withstand the day’s challenges.
    — Laura Sandroni, Vogue, 31 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 7 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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