as in repellent
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in repulsing
to drive back
the defenders repelled the attacking army after several hours of fierce fighting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disgusting
to cause to feel disgust
the idea of chocolate-covered grasshoppers repels me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in resisting
to refuse to give in to
repelled the temptation to stay out late and call in sick the next day
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of repelling
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
In any context, everyone is justified in resisting or repelling any invasion of their person or property, extracting restitution or exacting punishment in response to an invasion, or helping someone else do the same.
—Connor Okeeffe, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026
And beyond the initial hit to tourism and trade, the cost of repelling the attacks is staggering.
—Hadley Gamble, semafor.com, 19 Mar. 2026
This occurs when decomposing organic matter or soil fungi form a waxy, water-resistant coating around soil particles, repelling water rather than absorb it.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 15 Mar. 2026
There are many options for repelling mice.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Not long afterwards, the Spaniard goes down clutching his left shoulder after repelling a shot from Rutter and requires treatment.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Some plants also make good companions for carrots, either by repelling pests or creating the conditions that carrots like to grow in.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026
To protect your crops, consider growing insect-repelling plants.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
The housekeeping team fogs the balés every week to keep most of the biting insects at bay, and gardens teeming with mosquito-repelling lemongrass and zodia plants help keep them at a distance.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
In any context, everyone is justified in resisting or repelling any invasion of their person or property, extracting restitution or exacting punishment in response to an invasion, or helping someone else do the same.
—Connor Okeeffe, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026
And beyond the initial hit to tourism and trade, the cost of repelling the attacks is staggering.
—Hadley Gamble, semafor.com, 19 Mar. 2026
This occurs when decomposing organic matter or soil fungi form a waxy, water-resistant coating around soil particles, repelling water rather than absorb it.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 15 Mar. 2026
There are many options for repelling mice.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Not long afterwards, the Spaniard goes down clutching his left shoulder after repelling a shot from Rutter and requires treatment.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Some plants also make good companions for carrots, either by repelling pests or creating the conditions that carrots like to grow in.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026
To protect your crops, consider growing insect-repelling plants.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 26 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repelling
Adjective
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As with graphic violence, repellent characters don’t have to be a dealbreaker in a film like this one.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
16 Mar. 2026
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That goes for bars of pungent soap, essential oils, sonic repellant devices, and hanging up pennies in bags of water, a favorite Internet myth.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While there are dismemberments and other bits of gruesome violence to be found in the film, Badlands is largely aimed at endearing its audience rather than repulsing them.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Discharge Papers • Aw, The Pitt is back and happy to be disgusting again!—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Pride should come from your willingness to improve, not from resisting uncomfortable truths.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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One individual was also charged with complicity, and another was charged with resisting arrest, the department said.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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By this time, as an infection from the rusty nail courses through his body, Carroll has become a physically repulsive wreck, an open sore, riddled with gunge and pus.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
20 Mar. 2026
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More also cheat on their working wife or are found to be repulsive by their spouse.—
Eric Magnuson,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Of all the recent poster boys for appalling misbehavior by the State Police, Michael Proctor would of course rank number one.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Truly appalling friend counsel here from Mindy.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
19 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Humans seemingly have opposing desires to fit in and to be unique.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
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But Swanson isn’t ready to endorse reverse framing, a conceptual strategy in which catchers could try to make strikes look like balls in an effort to fool opposing hitters into wasting a challenge.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The revolting legacy of the pedophile trafficker Jeffrey Epstein continues to unmask the obstacles to finding truth.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
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For him, the most revolting thing about his life in Iran was its pervasive stink.—
Amir Ahmadi Arian,
The Dial,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repelling. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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