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
Made from moisture-wicking fabric, this workout tank naturally repels sweat to keep you cool during high-intensity workouts and outdoor activities.
—
Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
Sometimes that means that one plant repels bugs that often attack the other plant.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
Summer savory attracts pollinators and repels bean beetles and aphids.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 26 May 2026
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
The chaos of American life repels her.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 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
Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
Sometimes that means that one plant repels bugs that often attack the other plant.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
Summer savory attracts pollinators and repels bean beetles and aphids.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 26 May 2026
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
The chaos of American life repels her.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 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
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
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That’s what really disgusts me.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2026
Verb
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The spacious interior accommodates towels, snacks and more, while the exterior resists dirt and scuffs.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
2 June 2026
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His victim, in her unassailable purity, resists him, thereby proving that the arrivistes populating the ranks of England’s most upwardly mobile class had a moral edge over the nobility.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Alcohol kills 178,000 Americans each year and sickens countless more.—
Lev Facher,
STAT,
12 May 2026
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Just thinking about it totally sickens me.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But Spielberg also opposes using AI to replace writers, directors, or producers essential to core artistic decision-making.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
31 May 2026
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By midday, the Moon opposes unpredictable Uranus in curious Gemini, so big-picture hopes can contrast with fast facts, shifting plans, or surprise updates.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repels. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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