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
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
-
The front glass also includes an anti-smudge coating, fluorine, a material that repels grease and moisture.—
Jim Fisher,
PC Magazine,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Foliage has a waxy covering that repels pests and discourages disease.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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At the same time, China’s appetite for conflict has likely been dampened by struggles to support its slowing domestic economy, as well as a string of dismissals in the top echelons of its own military.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The same dismissals and insults.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
-
One of Lerner’s virtues as a writer is that his work resists this relentless gathering of data (news, text messages, posts), a gathering that’s both abundant and diffuse, and that, paradoxically, feels like a giving over of one’s mind and capacities to fuzzy abstraction.—
Hannah Gold,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
-
This type of steel retains its sharpness over extended use, resists corrosion and rust, and doesn't chip easily.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The season’s three biggest acting snubs got to introduce their casting directors during this segment, which was a nice way to give them flowers for strong performances.—
William Earl,
Variety,
16 Mar. 2026
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Just about any set of nominations, let alone wins, comes with articles citing surprises and snubs.—
Rich Heldenfels,
Boston Herald,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The partial rejections were issued March 9 by EPA administrator Lee Zeldin, who agreed with the environmental group that the six air permits were insufficient.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
16 Mar. 2026
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Gnecco said getting rejections from potential partners and having a business concept that everyone may not understand doesn’t make life as a company executive easy.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repulses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repulses. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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