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
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Recent Examples of repulses
Alexander Nazaryan, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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
-
Foliage has a waxy covering that repels pests and discourages disease.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The disguise simultaneously repels birds and other larger predators, who have no interest in eating what appears to be excrement, while luring in the spider’s next dinner.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Analysts believe the dismissals are meant both to reform and modernize the military and to ensure Communist Party control over the People's Liberation Army.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Another 84,000 cases ended in dismissals, but that outcome wasn’t reflected in their criminal history either.—
Jason Henry,
Daily News,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Just thinking about it totally sickens me.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Jan. 2026
-
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Listeria sickens about 1,250 Americans every year and causes approximately 172 deaths.—
News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Pott Wine, by its very nature, resists that rhythm.—
K. H. Koehler,
USA Today,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The Signature Round Deep Oven offers plenty of features that justify the investment, like its easy-to-clean enamel that resists chipping, dulling, and staining, a tight-fitting lid that helps circulate steam, and an ergonomic knob for effortless lifting.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Want even more news on the latest nominations, snubs, and acceptance speeches?—
Eve Batey,
Vanity Fair,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Check out some of the night’s biggest snubs and surprises below.—
William Earl,
Variety,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The comments were in response to questions about an editorial published earlier this week in The Wall Street Journal that questioned Prasad’s role in the rejections and accused Prasad of insisting on clinical trials that are too difficult and expensive to pull off.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
27 Feb. 2026
-
For workers, that might look like applying for jobs despite already receiving countless rejections.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repulses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repulses. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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