as in repellent
Related Words
Relevance
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
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 repelling
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2026
Other deterrents act by repelling insects and disease organisms.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
Commercial pesticides can kill spiders, but there aren’t any good solutions for repelling them.
—Dan Simms, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Chef's Choice Culinary Rosemary has a higher essential oil content than other varieties and can be more effective at repelling mosquitoes.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 6 May 2026
Tristan Jarry got his first start of the series, repelling 34 pucks.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 27 Apr. 2026
Root-knot nematodes are one of the biggest pest problems for eggplants, and marigolds' strong smell is excellent for repelling nematodes.
—Heather Bien, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
Chechen media reported Wednesday that Russian forces were repelling drone attacks in the region.
—Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 30 Dec. 2024
But that decline can be understood as a pragmatic understanding of the difficulties of repelling an invading force.
—Anton Grushetskyi, Foreign Affairs, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
This summer, fight against the bite with bug-repelling hacks, like a Zevo bug trap and Thermacell mosquito repellent—no smelly chemicals required.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2026
Other deterrents act by repelling insects and disease organisms.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
Commercial pesticides can kill spiders, but there aren’t any good solutions for repelling them.
—Dan Simms, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Chef's Choice Culinary Rosemary has a higher essential oil content than other varieties and can be more effective at repelling mosquitoes.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 6 May 2026
Tristan Jarry got his first start of the series, repelling 34 pucks.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 27 Apr. 2026
Root-knot nematodes are one of the biggest pest problems for eggplants, and marigolds' strong smell is excellent for repelling nematodes.
—Heather Bien, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
Chechen media reported Wednesday that Russian forces were repelling drone attacks in the region.
—Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 30 Dec. 2024
But that decline can be understood as a pragmatic understanding of the difficulties of repelling an invading force.
—Anton Grushetskyi, Foreign Affairs, 30 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repelling
Adjective
-
Since the materials are designed to be stain-resistant and water-repellant, this couch perfectly suits our tendency to eat and drink in the living room.—
Meg Kernahan,
Architectural Digest,
15 May 2026
-
However, because onions and leeks are naturally repellent to most pests, they can usually be grown together without any issues.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The consequences of disgusting one’s wife, whether or not one agrees with her premise, could be enormous.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Discharge Papers • Aw, The Pitt is back and happy to be disgusting again!—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
She was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, tampering with evidence and being in a park after hours.—
Steven Yablonski,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
-
The arrests were on various charges, including affray, possession of narcotics, resisting without violence and unlawful possession of a weapon, according to the Tampa Police Department.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
To the sixth graders, this behavior was repulsive and compelling.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
These compounds have a strong, pungent odor that many insects, including grubs, find repulsive.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The young Forster recoiled from the school’s culture of authoritarianism and militaristic chauvinism, which may have found expression in the students’ often appalling attitudes toward their own mothers.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
When an opposing superstar is cooking, which can happen in the playoffs, their firepower becomes an issue.—
Hunter Patterson,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
-
Ashlee Casey with the Sacramento Water Forum said that opposing groups including environmentalists, developers, farmers and cities have all reached an agreement on how to best use water that's released from Folsom Dam and flows down the American River.—
James Taylor,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
The revolting legacy of the pedophile trafficker Jeffrey Epstein continues to unmask the obstacles to finding truth.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
-
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 18 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
