repel

[ ri-pel ]

verb (used with object)

, re·pelled, re·pel·ling.

1. to drive or force back (an assailant, invader, etc.).

   Synonyms: parry, repulse

   Antonyms: attract

2. to thrust back or away.
3. to resist effectively (an attack, onslaught, etc.).

   Synonyms: rebuff, oppose, withstand

4. to keep off or out; fail to mix with:

   Water and oil repel each other.

5. to resist the absorption or passage of (water or other liquid):

   This coat repels rain.

6. to refuse to have to do with; resist involvement in:

   to repel temptation.

7. to refuse to accept or admit; reject:

   to repel a suggestion.

   Synonyms: rebuff, decline

8. to discourage the advances of (a person):

   He repelled me with his harshness.

9. to cause distaste or aversion in:

   Their untidy appearance repelled us.

10. to push back or away by a force, as one body acting upon another ( attract ):

    The north pole of one magnet will repel the north pole of another.

verb (used without object)

, re·pelled, re·pel·ling.

1. to act with a force that drives or keeps away something.
2. to cause distaste or aversion.

repel

/ rɪˈpɛl /

verb

1. to force or drive back (something or somebody, esp an attacker)
2. also intr to produce a feeling of aversion or distaste in (someone or something); be disgusting (to)
3. to push aside; dismiss

   he repelled the suggestion as wrong and impossible

4. to be effective in keeping away, controlling, or resisting

   an aerosol spray that repels flies

5. to have no affinity for; fail to mix with or absorb

   water and oil repel each other

6. to disdain to accept (something); turn away from or spurn

   she repelled his advances

7. also intr to exert an opposing force on (something)

   an electric charge repels another charge of the same sign

Usage

See repulse

Derived Forms

• reˈpeller, noun

Other Words From

• re·pellence re·pellen·cy noun
• re·peller noun
• re·pelling·ly adverb
• re·pelling·ness noun
• nonre·pellence noun
• nonre·pellen·cy noun
• nonre·peller noun
• self-re·pellen·cy noun
• unre·pelled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of repel¹

1350–1400; Middle English repellen < Latin repellere to drive back, equivalent to re- re- + pellere to drive, push; repulse

Word History and Origins

Origin of repel¹

C15: from Latin repellere , from re- + pellere to push, drive

Example Sentences

The cycle continued in the 1980s after the Soviet invasion and America’s support of militias to repel Moscow.

From Ozy

On CNN, someone was questioning whether the police had used sufficient force to repel the rioters, asking why they hadn’t arrested more people on the scene.

From Time

For her to field those lightning strikes of abuse and repel them with her own agency is a superhero display of its own.

From The Daily Beast

This spectrally precise effect can be thought of as creating a force field that repels crowds around an embassy, base, port, or other high value location.

From Popular-Science

They couldn’t be 100% effective because they were just repelling them once they were there.

From The Daily Beast

The only exception is military action to repel an imminent attack.

From The Daily Beast

Bieber now knows his perfect body is no longer the weaponry with which to repel his bad press.

From The Daily Beast

It was easy to imagine that the landscape was actively trying to repel us.

From The Daily Beast

On paper, the forces in Tikrit should have been more than adequate to repel even a force of this size.

From The Daily Beast

Scuffles broke out with riot police, who used pepper spray to repel party members wielding Greek flags on thick wooden sticks.

From The Daily Beast

A dignified, modest reserve is the surest way to repel impertinence.

From Project Gutenberg

They were ready to adopt the most energetic measures to repel the interference of this armed confederacy.

From Project Gutenberg

Douglas was advancing to repel the assailants when he was informed of the force in rear, and instantly drew back his men.

From Project Gutenberg

The men of his company, roaring curses at the Frenchmen, prepare to receive and repel a thundering charge of French cuirassiers.

From Project Gutenberg

An always wrathful God would repel His worshipers, or cast them into despair.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• chase away
• confront
• drive away
• drive off
• fend off
• hold off
• rebuff
• resist
• ward off
• withstand