as in rebuffs
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 disgusts
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 repels
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
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Recent Examples of repulses
Daniel Felsenthal,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2026
Charlie, though, is trying to keep them out of a country that thoroughly repulses him.
—
Alexander Nazaryan,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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
Charlie, though, is trying to keep them out of a country that thoroughly repulses him.
—
Alexander Nazaryan,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repulses
Noun
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That led to a number of dismissals, including coach Massimiliano Allegri.
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What is particularly concerning about these firings is the effect the dismissals will have on the officer ranks.
Verb
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That’s what really disgusts me.
Verb
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Straw naturally repels water because its outer layer is coated with a naturally occurring wax.
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But basil also has a rich fragrance that repels an assortment of pests, including mosquitoes, flies, and even tomato hornworms.
Noun
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Minions & Monsters nods to the Academy snubs with a recurring gag imagining a Minion director receiving a Golden Banana trophy.
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For many, two key snubs for Mauricio Pochettino’s first World Cup roster were in the midfield, as Diego Luna and Tanner Tessman weren’t among the 26 men on the stage at Pier 17.
Verb
-
Alcohol kills 178,000 Americans each year and sickens countless more.
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Just thinking about it totally sickens me.
Verb
-
The lids are made with Rubbermaid’s BPA-free StainShield plastic, which resists odors and stains without warping in the dishwasher.
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This looser-fitting top sits right at the waistband and is made of a durable nylon and elastane blend that resists wear and tear (justifying the price point).
Noun
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With more rejections, more appeals are being filed with Medicare's administrative contractors.
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Trump’s rejections cast a long shadow — not just over Illinois but over the entire federal disaster-response system — which critics say the president has bent to serve political ends.
Cite this Entry
“Repulses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repulses. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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