How to Use repel in a Sentence

repel

verb
  • Magnets can both repel and attract one another.
  • Their superior forces repelled the invasion.
  • Two positive electrical charges repel each other.
  • Or store with cedar to repel pests and impart a fresh scent.
    Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2023
  • Made of 100% polyester, the fabric repels water to help keep mold and mildew away.
    Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2024
  • Over the course of seven weeks in fall 1892, Dahomey’s army fought valiantly to repel the French.
    Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Sep. 2022
  • Videos showed police using stun grenades to repel the crowds.
    Christian Edwards, CNN, 13 June 2024
  • Campfires are thought to be a cheap and easy way to repel mosquitoes.
    Kaitlyn McInnis, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2023
  • But the opposite proved true; Ukraine repelled the invasion, and the city was saved.
    Josh Rogin, Washington Post, 12 July 2024
  • They are both deeply bonded to each other and repelled by each other at the same time.
    Marlow Stern, Rolling Stone, 7 Dec. 2023
  • The patches go on your clothes or bag and claim to repel mosquitoes up to 3 feet away for eight hours.
    Fiorella Valdesolo, WSJ, 23 June 2022
  • These shoes will repel fluids and prevent stains, all while looking quite stylish in the process.
    Rebecca Norris, Woman's Day, 10 Mar. 2023
  • Birds are not repelled by capsaicin—and this might keep chipmunks away.
    Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 30 Aug. 2023
  • Not only that, but the vinyl-like coating repels water, crumbs, sand, and dirt.
    Theresa Holland, Peoplemag, 3 June 2024
  • The formula is stain-blocking and designed to retain the paint's shine while repelling dirt and scuff marks.
    Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Oct. 2023
  • This V-neck is designed to repel liquids, stains, and odors, thanks to the special linen-cotton blend and added side vents.
    Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2023
  • In exchange, the odor of leeks repels many strawberry pests.
    Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Aug. 2024
  • The sisters, meanwhile, are half drawn in and half repelled by these two men who’ve strayed in from a different world.
    Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 23 June 2024
  • These ingredients all work to repel fleas and keep them away from your dog.
    Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2022
  • The audience was repelled and delighted by this public cruelty — the last track soared to the top of the charts.
    Susan Caskie, theweek, 21 May 2024
  • Before the masked man gets too close, he’s repelled by an imaginary force.
    Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 9 July 2024
  • In a lab setting, citronellal has been found to repel bugs.
    Benjamin Whitacre, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2022
  • Select materials that are easy to wipe down and that repel stains and scuffs.
    Samantha McIntyre, Parents, 9 Mar. 2024
  • Other insects may need to contact the compound in order to detect it, and they may be repelled by the taste.
    Claire Gillespie, Health, 31 Mar. 2023
  • Over the year the Russian advance has been repelled in multiple towns and villages across Ukraine.
    Ian Pannell, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2023
  • On top of that, look for a cleaner with a protectant to help repel soil and fingerprints.
    Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, 29 June 2022
  • For months, Russian forces have laid siege to the city, where Ukraine’s army said Sunday its defenders had repelled attacks in the north.
    Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2023
  • Healthy people with strong immune systems may be able to repel such pathogens.
    Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2024
  • The Office of Georgia's Secretary of State repelled a cyber attack earlier this month that appeared to be an attempt to shut down the website voters use to request absentee ballots ahead of the election.
    Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
  • Companion Plants Some strongly scented plants naturally repel deer, and growing these plants near your pumpkins can provide an additional layer of protection for your crops.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Oct. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'repel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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