1
as in repulses
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 disgusts
to cause to feel disgust
the idea of chocolate-covered grasshoppers repels me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in resists
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 repels
Garlic, onions, chives, and other plants in the allium family, including ornamentals, have a strong and pungent odor that repels an assortment of garden pests.
—
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 May 2026
Sage can be a real asset in the garden that repels pests from other plants and attracts pollinators with its flowers.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 10 May 2026
The chaos of American life repels her.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2026
If your glass doors have a special coating that repels stains, test cleaners in an inconspicuous place first and check with the manufacturer for cleaning instructions.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 May 2026
The South China Morning Post stated that this molecule uses its rigid, bulky structure to physically shield the iron core from chemical attack, while its strong negative charge creates a force field that repels leaking particles.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Apr. 2026
The herby scent also repels flies, gnats, and some ticks.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 May 2026
Sage can be a real asset in the garden that repels pests from other plants and attracts pollinators with its flowers.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 10 May 2026
The chaos of American life repels her.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2026
If your glass doors have a special coating that repels stains, test cleaners in an inconspicuous place first and check with the manufacturer for cleaning instructions.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 May 2026
The South China Morning Post stated that this molecule uses its rigid, bulky structure to physically shield the iron core from chemical attack, while its strong negative charge creates a force field that repels leaking particles.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Apr. 2026
The herby scent also repels flies, gnats, and some ticks.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repels
Verb
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Sigmund Freud believed that every crush has a strand of disgust, that people are attracted to what repulses them.—
Daniel Felsenthal,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2026
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Charlie, though, is trying to keep them out of a country that thoroughly repulses him.—
Alexander Nazaryan,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That’s what really disgusts me.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
From pet hair to crumbs, this Shark handheld cordless vacuum cleaner can tackle messes large and small, thanks to strong suction and a self-cleaning brush that resists pet hair accumulation.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2026
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In maritime circles, 1964’s OpSail is often credited with reigniting tall ship events around the world (see last year’s SAIL Amsterdam’s extravaganza, for example), though the appeal resists easy explanation.—
Paige Darrah,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Alcohol kills 178,000 Americans each year and sickens countless more.—
Lev Facher,
STAT,
12 May 2026
-
Just thinking about it totally sickens me.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The people around Trump support these equivocations because anyone who opposes Trump’s ideas in the White House will be shown the door; any Republican who speaks up in Congress will be primaried out of their seat.—
Tom Nichols,
The Atlantic,
19 May 2026
-
Like all the candidates, Hopkins opposes the plan.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repels. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
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