as in repellent
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in repulsing
to drive back
the defenders repelled the attacking army after several hours of fierce fighting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disgusting
to cause to feel disgust
the idea of chocolate-covered grasshoppers repels me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in resisting
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 repelling
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2026
In drills, Taiwan has rehearsed repelling a seaborne assault with drones, fast patrol craft, mobile Hsiung Feng anti-ship missiles and Marine Corps teams.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
The housekeeping team fogs the balés every week to keep most of the biting insects at bay, and gardens teeming with mosquito-repelling lemongrass and zodia plants help keep them at a distance.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
In any context, everyone is justified in resisting or repelling any invasion of their person or property, extracting restitution or exacting punishment in response to an invasion, or helping someone else do the same.
—Connor Okeeffe, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026
And beyond the initial hit to tourism and trade, the cost of repelling the attacks is staggering.
—Hadley Gamble, semafor.com, 19 Mar. 2026
This occurs when decomposing organic matter or soil fungi form a waxy, water-resistant coating around soil particles, repelling water rather than absorb it.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 15 Mar. 2026
There are many options for repelling mice.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Not long afterwards, the Spaniard goes down clutching his left shoulder after repelling a shot from Rutter and requires treatment.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
Results suggested this impact was due to the plants creating a physical barrier that disrupted the movement of cucumber beetles, rather than any effects of repelling them or attracting beneficial insects.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2026
In drills, Taiwan has rehearsed repelling a seaborne assault with drones, fast patrol craft, mobile Hsiung Feng anti-ship missiles and Marine Corps teams.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
The housekeeping team fogs the balés every week to keep most of the biting insects at bay, and gardens teeming with mosquito-repelling lemongrass and zodia plants help keep them at a distance.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
In any context, everyone is justified in resisting or repelling any invasion of their person or property, extracting restitution or exacting punishment in response to an invasion, or helping someone else do the same.
—Connor Okeeffe, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026
And beyond the initial hit to tourism and trade, the cost of repelling the attacks is staggering.
—Hadley Gamble, semafor.com, 19 Mar. 2026
This occurs when decomposing organic matter or soil fungi form a waxy, water-resistant coating around soil particles, repelling water rather than absorb it.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 15 Mar. 2026
There are many options for repelling mice.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Not long afterwards, the Spaniard goes down clutching his left shoulder after repelling a shot from Rutter and requires treatment.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repelling
Adjective
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It’s made with a beautiful and resilient Iroko wood frame, and water-repellant polyester cushions.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
31 Mar. 2026
-
As with graphic violence, repellent characters don’t have to be a dealbreaker in a film like this one.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While there are dismemberments and other bits of gruesome violence to be found in the film, Badlands is largely aimed at endearing its audience rather than repulsing them.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Discharge Papers • Aw, The Pitt is back and happy to be disgusting again!—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Orbán began vilifying the EU, often comparing Brussels to the Soviet Union, even while receiving massive amounts of EU money, and resisting pressure to reverse democratic backsliding.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
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He was later charged with three counts of battery with injury on a police officer and one count of resisting an executive officer.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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As matter collapses inside a black hole and densities rise toward the Planck scale, the torsion of spacetime begins to generate a repulsive effect.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Apr. 2026
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By this time, as an infection from the rusty nail courses through his body, Carroll has become a physically repulsive wreck, an open sore, riddled with gunge and pus.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Of all the recent poster boys for appalling misbehavior by the State Police, Michael Proctor would of course rank number one.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
4 Jan. 2026
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Truly appalling friend counsel here from Mindy.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
19 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Dorman was endorsed by Stop The AI Data Center, a grassroots political action group formed by residents opposing the incoming $150 billion artificial intelligence data center from Dutch company Nebius.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
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The Association of Federal Health Organizations, which represents CVS Health and dozens of other federal health plan carriers, also weighed in with a 122-page comment opposing the notice.—
Amanda Seitz,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The revolting legacy of the pedophile trafficker Jeffrey Epstein continues to unmask the obstacles to finding truth.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
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For him, the most revolting thing about his life in Iran was its pervasive stink.—
Amir Ahmadi Arian,
The Dial,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repelling. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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