1
as in repulsing
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 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
as in repellent
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of repelling
Nafees Alam, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
This polarization means even post-Trump, Democrats may cling to divisive issues like defund-the-police echoes or aggressive cultural wars, repelling the non-ideological public weary of extremes.
—Nafees Alam, Boston Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
Among the tasks for the troops were repelling migrants and, at least in one instance, troops used tear gas on a group of Venezuelan migrants at the border.
—Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
One raid saw masked federal agents repelling from Black Hawk helicopters and wrecking an apartment building.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025
In the first episode, the recruits wasted no time in repelling from a helicopter hovering in the air.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Sep. 2025
Essential Oils Some of the most effective oils for repelling rats include peppermint, eucalyptus, citronella, and lavender.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Sep. 2025
Don’t forget to stock up on these mosquito-repelling bracelets before your next camping trip or tropical-climate adventure.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 16 Sep. 2025
Your LinkedIn profile transformation starts now Your profile is either attracting dream clients or repelling them.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
This polarization means even post-Trump, Democrats may cling to divisive issues like defund-the-police echoes or aggressive cultural wars, repelling the non-ideological public weary of extremes.
—Nafees Alam, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
This polarization means even post-Trump, Democrats may cling to divisive issues like defund-the-police echoes or aggressive cultural wars, repelling the non-ideological public weary of extremes.
—Nafees Alam, Boston Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
Among the tasks for the troops were repelling migrants and, at least in one instance, troops used tear gas on a group of Venezuelan migrants at the border.
—Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
One raid saw masked federal agents repelling from Black Hawk helicopters and wrecking an apartment building.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025
In the first episode, the recruits wasted no time in repelling from a helicopter hovering in the air.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Sep. 2025
Essential Oils Some of the most effective oils for repelling rats include peppermint, eucalyptus, citronella, and lavender.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Sep. 2025
Don’t forget to stock up on these mosquito-repelling bracelets before your next camping trip or tropical-climate adventure.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 16 Sep. 2025
Your LinkedIn profile transformation starts now Your profile is either attracting dream clients or repelling them.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repelling
Verb
-
The Beverly Hills regular was charged with public intoxication, trespassing, resisting an officer and battery in April 2015, according to Bravo, followed by another arrest, four months later, on suspicion of shoplifting upwards of $600 worth of items from Target.—
Diane J. Cho,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Enrique Gomez-Urbina, 21, of Mexico, was arrested by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force and is charged with first-degree murder and resisting arrest, according to the Austin Police Department.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The strip of hair running from between his chest muscles down into his rough-leather pants was both sexy and repellant, alluring and indecent.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
-
That goes for bars of pungent soap, essential oils, sonic repellant devices, and hanging up pennies in bags of water, a favorite Internet myth.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But some property owners have signed a petition opposing the initiative, which could keep it from going to the Common Council for consideration.—
Bridget Fogarty,
jsonline.com,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Conservative activist Riley Gaines, known for her advocacy opposing transgender individuals in women’s sports, has been appointed to the Sumner County Library Board.—
Diana Leyva,
Nashville Tennessean,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Someone may have had the impulse to say something despicable about the assassination of Kirk or expressed some repulsive attitudes towards a particular group of people that warranted social pressure.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Parasites are repulsive enough in the wild, but coming across one in your food takes the gross-out factor to a whole other level.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The illness spreads through the tribe, sickening one of its leaders and creating division and disorder.—
Maggie Doherty,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The plant—and particularly the liverwurst product made there—was determined to be the source of a Listeria outbreak that spanned May to September of last year, sickening at least 61 people across 19 states.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This revolting behavior is not limited to the media.—
Brooke L. Rollins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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The many physically revolting and morally repellent acts that ensue amount to little but a gross-out joke.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
But Montgomery also insisted that Billy get a more complex backstory that helped explain his repugnant behavior, especially toward Max and Lucas in the second season.—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
16 Oct. 2025
-
But Rieff also invokes sickness in another sense, denoting that which is morally repugnant.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Repelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repelling. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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