as in dismissal
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly
the waiter's incredibly rude repulse of our polite request for a better table—one that wasn't right next to the kitchen—prompted us to walk out
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to disgust
to cause to feel disgust
the smell of that town's paper mill totally repulses me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to repel
to drive back
the defense repeatedly repulsed all of the offense's attempts to move the ball forward, keeping them firmly planted on the 20-yard line
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of repulse
Rory Doherty, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
But many foresee a protracted, bitter conflict, particularly in the country’s east as Russian forces retrench after the humiliating repulse of their advance on Kyiv.
—Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2022
Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Dec. 2025
Carol is repulsed by how regressive this sounds and nearly loses her temper for an alien-shaking third time in the episode.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for repulse
Noun
The optical, stop-motion, and puppetry effects alone should make Brain Damage a priority on your watchlist, but Henenlotter’s film excites and repulses on a deeper level.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
But many foresee a protracted, bitter conflict, particularly in the country’s east as Russian forces retrench after the humiliating repulse of their advance on Kyiv.
—Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2022
Verb
To go from being repulsed to being utterly nurtured was an extraordinary journey.
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Dec. 2025
Carol is repulsed by how regressive this sounds and nearly loses her temper for an alien-shaking third time in the episode.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for repulse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repulse
Noun
-
Mathieu played just two collegiate seasons before his dismissal in 2012 and subsequent entry into a drug rehabilitation program.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
At Rufus King International Middle School, students must store their phones in a vault each morning and retrieve them at dismissal.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Many Americans are rightfully disgusted by recent abuses of the pardon power to reward allies and exempt the president from the rule of law.—
Bernadette Meyler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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Ana-María Saíz-Molinar, 20, a Chandler resident and organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, said she was disgusted by the latest death at the hands of federal agents.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
AZCentral.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Inviting in such resolute saboteurs, these institutions repel many in their core audience.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
In ancient China, Fa Mulan (Ming-Na Wen) takes her ailing father’s place as a conscript by disguising herself as a man to help repel the invading Huns.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Braced by that humiliating rebuff, the Service wasted no time in getting serious and rallying around reform.—
Craig Hooper,
Forbes.com,
8 Jan. 2026
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The matter-of-fact rebuff feels very French, very Oklou.—
Anna Gaca,
Pitchfork,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Palmetto State far surpassed Texas’ outbreak, which sickened 762 people and killed two young girls.—
Melinda Yao,
NBC news,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Raw carrot and orange juices aren’t pasteurized and may contain bacteria that can sicken anyone.—
Mark Gurarie,
Health,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Crystals are materials whose particles form repeating patterns that resist deformation, commonly seen in nature as snowflakes, diamonds, or table salt.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Besides, Wall Street’s infatuation with AI was likely too hard to resist.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Calling for an independent transportation study is not a rejection of women’s professional soccer.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
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A week before being taken into custody, Lemon predicted he’d be arrested, despite Schiltz's rejection of the government's previous attempts to apprehend him.—
Danielle Bacher,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The unconscionable treatment of maids in Alma’s era finds uncomfortable parallels in the 1980s, when Angelika is both appalled and intrigued by the leering looks of her uncle Uwe (Konstantin Lindhorst).—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
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Jefferson—the original originalist—would have been appalled at some of our recent Supreme Court decisions.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repulse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repulse. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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