1
as in to repulse
to drive back
the defenders repelled the attacking army after several hours of fierce fighting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to disgust
to cause to feel disgust
the idea of chocolate-covered grasshoppers repels me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to resist
to refuse to give in to
repelled the temptation to stay out late and call in sick the next day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of repel
Ahead, find comfy hiking boots that don’t require a break-in period, quick-drying beach blankets that repel sand, and three-in-one travel pants suited for just about any Puerto Rican adventure, starting at just $6.
1.
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Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2025
This desperation, rather than repelling me, became a source of connection.
—Priscilla Posada, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2025
Kyiv's troops have repelled months of Russian counteroffensives, but recent weeks have seen their salient crumble and Russian forces retake significant ground.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 13 Mar. 2025
After more than four years of defending a lawsuit against video gaming operators and their trade association, the city of Waukegan will receive more than $11.3 million after repelling an onslaught of allegations over several iterations before the court.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for repel
Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2025
This desperation, rather than repelling me, became a source of connection.
—Priscilla Posada, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2025
Kyiv's troops have repelled months of Russian counteroffensives, but recent weeks have seen their salient crumble and Russian forces retake significant ground.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 13 Mar. 2025
After more than four years of defending a lawsuit against video gaming operators and their trade association, the city of Waukegan will receive more than $11.3 million after repelling an onslaught of allegations over several iterations before the court.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for repel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repel
Verb
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Kay’s particular diet was a recurring talking point on the show, with condiments such as ketchup and mayo among the foods that repulsed the TV voice of the Yankees.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
4 Jan. 2025
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These same, once skeptical business leaders rallied around Trump in 2017 but were repulsed by many of his words and actions within eight months, withdrawing support, not returning to give him a second chance until now.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Steven Tian,
TIME,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In her discussion of Christianity, King relishes the absurdity that results when a religion that is disgusted by female sexuality also engages in mother worship.—
S. C. Cornell,
The New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2025
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Once again, DeSantis has gone too far — in this case, ideologically and geographically — and people who surely voted for him in the state’s most conservative region are disgusted.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Many assume government workers will resist new technology, but this overlooks a simple truth: The entire U.S. workforce already navigates sophisticated technology in their daily lives.—
Alex Saric,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
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However, Walter resisted and quickly dove into the pond.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA TODAY,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The measles outbreak, which has killed two people to date and sickened nearly 260 across three states, represents the first time Kennedy has had to reckon with his past as a longtime critic of vaccines and his new leadership of the federal health establishment.—
Nathaniel Weixel,
The Hill,
13 Mar. 2025
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For the first time in a decade, someone in the U.S. has died from measles — an unvaccinated child in Texas caught up in an outbreak that has sickened more than 120 other people.—
Susan Kressly,
Orlando Sentinel,
8 Mar. 2025
Verb
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For decades, the organization vigorously opposed sports gambling.—
Made by History,
TIME,
20 Mar. 2025
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California voters opposed similar school voucher plans in 1993 and 2000, with both initiatives receiving about 30 percent support.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacramento Bee,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Before installing, choose a tile that is waterproof and durable enough to withstand walking.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Mar. 2025
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Now, 25 years later, Zenger Folkman conducted a study to determine whether its initial conclusions about leadership styles have withstood the test of time and remain valid today.—
Joseph Folkman,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Repel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repel. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
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