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 The York features espresso feet and comes upholstered in the retailer’s contract-grade Performance Everyday Velvet, which promises to repel liquids and resist abrasions of daily life. — Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2026 The running back, 25, had a career night in his first game with the Chiefs, tallying 173 rushing yards on 23 carries, seemingly repelling opponents which resulted in multiple Broncos missed tackles. — Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026 This includes rain-repelling treatments like Rain X, adds Musson. — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 12 Sep. 2026 The two countries’ ties have grown stronger since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022 with Pyongyang sending thousands of troops to Russia’s Kursk region to help repel a 2024 Ukrainian incursion there. — Reuters, NBC news, 7 Sep. 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
  • Janice was disgusted; Mary was emotionally devastated and financially ruined.
    — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • But discussing the importance of a top-10 win in October seemed to disgust Drinkwitz.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of disgust
Verb
  • Gibson was convicted of unlawful gun possession and misdemeanor resisting arrest for not exiting the elevator, but the jury acquitted him of felony resisting arrest.
    — Senior Editor, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • However, experts on military law said Hasan could choose to resist execution and file a habeas petition in civilian court, which could significantly delay the execution.
    — Konstantin Toropin, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of resist
Verb
  • Outbreaks this year in Louisiana and last year in Florida sickened multiple children, including at least one who developed the same life-changing kidney condition as Brooklyn.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • This can include cases in which toxic chemicals drift into neighboring fields or communities and sicken people.
    — Robert J. Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of sicken
Verb
  • This was a leftism distinct from Marxism and later communism, but nonetheless opposed to the state, the capitalist class, and clericalism.
    — Ed Simon, JSTOR Daily, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Polling conducted by the Associated Press/NORC last year shows that more Americans oppose the current biannual clock change than those who support it—47% compared to just 12%.
    — Chantelle Lee, Time, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of oppose
Verb
  • The Bruins’ defense withstood the Ducks’ final push and celebrated a signature victory during a turnaround season.
    — Elias Esquivel, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Iran has spent the past 15 years developing an economy specifically designed to withstand American economic warfare.
    — Narges Bajoghli, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 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 14 Oct. 2026.

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