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repulses 1 of 2

noun

plural of repulse
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

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repulses

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of repulse
1
as in disgusts
to cause to feel disgust the smell of that town's paper mill totally repulses me

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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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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 repulses
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
  1. dismissals
  2. disgusts
  3. repels
  4. snubs
  5. sickens
  6. resists
  7. rejections
Noun
  • Editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, publisher Max Lederer, and reporter Lara Korte at Stars and Stripes – a military news outlet that is partially funded by the Pentagon – claimed their dismissals were retaliatory and violated the First Amendment.
    — Miles J. Herszenhorn, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Jeremiah Johnson, vice president of the National Association of Immigration Judges, said asylum rates appear to be one factor, but the dismissals cannot be attributed to a single reason.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of dismissals
Verb
  • That’s what really disgusts me.
    — Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
Definition of disgusts
Verb
  • Spray the areas around your home where wasps have gathered in the past with peppermint essential oil spray, which Wong says overwhelms their sensory receptors and naturally repels them.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Celery, thyme, marigold, and chamomile can help mask the smell of cabbage plants, while borage repels the moths.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 27 July 2026
Definition of repels
Noun
  • Its complete omission from the 2026 Latin Grammy nominations was one of the most notable snubs on Wednesday morning.
    — Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 16 Sep. 2026
  • After the Emmy morning announcement, Vanity Fair’s experts assessed the snubs and surprises of the nominations, which may provide insight for your own ballot.
    — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of snubs
Verb
  • Domoic acid is a toxin produced by algae and typically sickens animals that feed on open-ocean fish.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Alcohol kills 178,000 Americans each year and sickens countless more.
    — Lev Facher, STAT, 12 May 2026
Definition of sickens
Verb
  • Those are routes an attacker may try when authentication resists them.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Tarlov also resists being in lockstep with every Democratic position and trend.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of resists
Noun
  • Osubor had made a short that played well with friends and family and nowhere else, collecting festival rejections.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Finally published in 1962 after dozens of rejections, the novel won the prestigious Newbery Medal and has remained in print ever since.
    — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of rejections

Browse Nearby Words

repulsed
repulses
repulsing
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Cite this Entry

“Repulses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repulses. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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