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
The administration did not expect the public to be repelled by DOGE.
—
Jamelle Bouie, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2026
If critics and cinephiles were split on, even largely repelled by, The Sphere’s digital addition of new Oz performances and visuals, the general public embraced an immersive, eventized version of the classic movie.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026
Typewriters, stationery, fine-art museums, the quintessential impressionist painter—these are all associated with taste, beauty, and craft, as well as with intentionality and care, the opposite of the ruthless technological efficiency that repels many from generative AI.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Taipei is particularly concerned that as the Middle East conflict drags on, American forces are depleting their stockpile of long-range cruise missiles that would be critical to repel a Chinese assault on Taiwan, the Financial Times reported.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for repel
Jamelle Bouie, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2026
If critics and cinephiles were split on, even largely repelled by, The Sphere’s digital addition of new Oz performances and visuals, the general public embraced an immersive, eventized version of the classic movie.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026
Typewriters, stationery, fine-art museums, the quintessential impressionist painter—these are all associated with taste, beauty, and craft, as well as with intentionality and care, the opposite of the ruthless technological efficiency that repels many from generative AI.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Taipei is particularly concerned that as the Middle East conflict drags on, American forces are depleting their stockpile of long-range cruise missiles that would be critical to repel a Chinese assault on Taiwan, the Financial Times reported.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for repel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repel
Verb
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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
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Cilantro, a polarizing herb that’s either adored in Mexican, Southeast Asian, and Indian cuisines, or repulsed by those who detect a nauseating soapy taste.—
Catharine Kaufman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Being taught society’s standard eating rituals, so as not to disgust others by violating them, was certainly a useful part of ordinary child-rearing.—
Judith Martin,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
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On social media, Italian fans were disgusted by the performance, erupting into a meltdown rarely seen.—
Tyler Erzberger,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Supporters describe him as a fighter but Harris resists the label of politician.—
Brian Unger,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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Lori’s speech articulates the fundamental twinship of artists and critics—a reality that has always resisted attempts to drive a wedge between the two.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Gardners were on a family vacation when Miller Gardner died and Brett Gardner and others were sickened.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
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In February, the agency said 27 people were sickened in an outbreak of an unknown gastrointestinal illness on board a luxury cruise ship, the Regent Seven Seas, which was sailing from Miami to Honolulu.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Luscious Venus in your 5th House of Originality squares Pluto in your 2nd House of Resources, so projects and budgets will potentially tug your soul in opposing directions.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
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Polling released March 19 shows nearly two-thirds of Americans believe Trump will deploy troops into Iran, even though more than half of them opposed the move.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When Guthrie anchors the Today show on Easter Monday, a major break in the case withstanding, the Christian spillover-holiday will mark the 65th day since her mother, Nancy Guthrie, 84, was taken from her home in Tucson, Arizona.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Apr. 2026
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This connection provides the data needed to design divertors that can withstand the heat loads of real-world fusion energy production.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repel. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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