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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Verb
-
That’s what really disgusts me.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Garlic, onions, chives, and other plants in the allium family, including ornamentals, have a strong and pungent odor that repels an assortment of garden pests.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 May 2026
-
Sage can be a real asset in the garden that repels pests from other plants and attracts pollinators with its flowers.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
The Town Council experienced a wave of upheaval in 2025 amid executive actions, member dismissals, resignations and public criticism.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 May 2026
-
The Betriebsrat must be consulted before dismissals, and mass layoffs require formal social plans negotiated with employee representatives.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
27 May 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
-
From pet hair to crumbs, this Shark handheld cordless vacuum cleaner can tackle messes large and small, thanks to strong suction and a self-cleaning brush that resists pet hair accumulation.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2026
-
In maritime circles, 1964’s OpSail is often credited with reigniting tall ship events around the world (see last year’s SAIL Amsterdam’s extravaganza, for example), though the appeal resists easy explanation.—
Paige Darrah,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
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.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
26 May 2026
-
Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, Levi Colwill and Estevao will all get a full summer to recover their minds and bodies and enjoy the benefits of something resembling a proper pre-season, fuelled by the additional motivation of their World Cup snubs.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
For the next two years, Adamson and Watson struggled through label rejections, an aborted stint opening for Alice Cooper with a mediocre backing band, and some uneven sessions with Roxy Music producer Chris Thomas.—
Ethan Beck,
Pitchfork,
30 May 2026
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Jerry Mix, the investor who said yes after 73 rejections, believed in physical products and a long time horizon.—
Esha Chhabra,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repulses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repulses. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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