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
Straw naturally repels water because its outer layer is coated with a naturally occurring wax.
—
Noah Daly, Idaho Statesman, 13 June 2026
But basil also has a rich fragrance that repels an assortment of pests, including mosquitoes, flies, and even tomato hornworms.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2026
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
The chaos of American life repels her.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2026
Noah Daly, Idaho Statesman, 13 June 2026
But basil also has a rich fragrance that repels an assortment of pests, including mosquitoes, flies, and even tomato hornworms.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2026
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
The chaos of American life repels her.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 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 ambiguity of Chinese, the way meaning pools in the spaces between words, resists translation.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
15 June 2026
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The enamel is nonreactive, nonporous, and also resists stains, rust, scratches, and smell absorption.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 June 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
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If Dumerlus is sentenced to the maximum penalty (Trump would surely prefer the death penalty, but Canada opposes it), the country with the maple leaf will be viewed favorably by the president.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
20 June 2026
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PayPal and Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel has contributed $3 million to the California Business Roundtable, which opposes the tax.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repels. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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