View synonyms for repel

repel

[ ri-pel ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

, re·pelled, re·pel·ling.

to drive or force back (an assailant, invader, etc.).
Synonyms: parry, repulse
Antonyms: attract
to thrust back or away.
to resist effectively (an attack, onslaught, etc.).
Synonyms: rebuff, oppose, withstand
to keep off or out; fail to mix with:
Water and oil repel each other.
to resist the absorption or passage of (water or other liquid):
This coat repels rain.
to refuse to have to do with; resist involvement in:
to repel temptation.
to refuse to accept or admit; reject:
to repel a suggestion.
Synonyms: rebuff, decline
to discourage the advances of (a person):
He repelled me with his harshness.
to cause distaste or aversion in:
Their untidy appearance repelled us.
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.

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

repel

/ rɪˈpɛl /

verb

to force or drive back (something or somebody, esp an attacker)
also intr to produce a feeling of aversion or distaste in (someone or something); be disgusting (to)
to push aside; dismiss
he repelled the suggestion as wrong and impossible
to be effective in keeping away, controlling, or resisting
an aerosol spray that repels flies
to have no affinity for; fail to mix with or absorb
water and oil repel each other
to disdain to accept (something); turn away from or spurn
she repelled his advances
also intr to exert an opposing force on (something)
an electric charge repels another charge of the same sign

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Usage

See repulse

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Derived Forms

reˈpeller, noun

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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

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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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of repel¹

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

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Example Sentences

Syrians are generally repelled by extreme religious rhetoric.

From BBC

Prison governor John De Carteret said: "When a drone tries to breach the perimeter, it's repelled until it runs out of battery and then it slowly lowers itself down to the floor."

From BBC

“There are constant checks and lie-detector tests for everyone. The pay is much higher, and the troops aren’t sent to war. They’re there to either repel, or carry out, a nuclear strike.”

From BBC

Soon, mounds of unsightly sargassum – carried by currents from the Sargasso Sea and linked to climate change – were carpeting the region’s prized coastlines, repelling holidaymakers with the pungent stench emitted as it rots.

From BBC

These bonds tend to be very chemically inert, which makes it difficult for biological systems to interact with them — but also makes them uniquely able to repel oil, water and stains.

From Salon

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