REPULSE Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

repulse 1 of 2

noun

Definition of repulse

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

repulse

2 of 2

verb

ri-ˈpəls

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

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

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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 repulse

Noun

Larger than life, his creation repulses and torments him, and Victor spends the rest of his life both running from it and trying to destroy it. — Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024 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

Verb

Firstman’s debut directorial effort, Club Kid, shrewdly acknowledges those garish personality tics, which have both endeared and repulsed audiences. — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026 Anyone who has worked in or observed the media industry for the last couple of decades will recognize and be repulsed by nepo-baby Jay, who is undeniably villainous. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for repulse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for repulse

Noun

Cook denied the allegations and filed a lawsuit challenging her dismissal.

— Kevin Breuninger,Dan Mangan, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Wide receiver Cam Vaughn has reportedly filed a lawsuit against the University of Miami and the NCAA in an attempt to enter the transfer portal, a little more than one week after the Hurricanes announced his dismissal from the program.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of dismissal

Verb

Allie, in particular, is disgusted by the men who treat her as functionally interchangeable with any other available, able-bodied woman.

— Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
If the polls are any indication, Americans in general are disgusted with Washington’s Israel policy.

— Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of disgust

Verb

Reseeding helps block weed growth, repel lawn diseases, slow soil erosion, and strengthen growth in bare patches.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026
As mentioned above, Turkey’s deployment of TB2s in the country’s civil war in 2020 proved decisive, with these drones helping break the LNA’s siege on Tripoli and empowering GNA ground forces to repel Haftar’s fighters.

— Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of repel

Noun

The rebuff contributes to the future civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, in which Rhaenyra battles her half-brother Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) for the seat of power.

— Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 30 July 2026
Despite the Reina Sofía’s many refusals to lend the work to various institutions around the world, its rebuff of the Guggenheim’s request carries a particular sting because the Basque Country has long held that the painting belongs in the place where the depicted tragedy occurred.

— News Desk, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2026

Definition of rebuff

Verb

The broader outbreak has sickened hundreds of people across the country and led to dozens of hospitalizations.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
The tally of people sickened in the outbreak by the parasite cyclospora is now 11,458, the FDA said, up from about 10,900 reported last week.

— Todd Feurer, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of sicken

Verb

Plenty of adults were appalled, but punk had a powerful influence on fashion, filmmaking and graphic design as well as rock music – well beyond punk itself.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 23 Aug. 2026
Residents and board members alike said they were appalled at the practice.

— Kathy McCormack, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of appall

Browse Nearby Words

repugnant

repulse

repulsed

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Style

“Repulse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repulse. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of repulse

noun

verb

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