repel

[ri-pel]

verb (used with object)

repelled, repelling 

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)

repelled, repelling 

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

Other Word Forms

• repellence noun
• repellency noun
• repeller noun
• repellingly adverb
• repellingness noun
• nonrepellence noun
• nonrepellency noun
• nonrepeller noun
• self-repellency noun
• unrepelled 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

Footage on social media, as yet unverified by the BBC, shows explosions in the night sky, as air defence units begin repelling the attack.

From BBC

Mali's army said it repelled Tuesday morning's attacks, allegedly "neutralising" more than 80 militants, without saying if there were any other casualties.

From BBC

Knowing how Lyonne has responded to the smallest bit of backlash has repelled me, too.

From Salon

The ring of steel repelled all non ticket holders and 140,000 legitimate festival goers attended that year.

From BBC

It was a route that Bordeaux took again and again, but a stubborn Northampton defence repelled them repeatedly.

From BBC

Related Words

• chase away www.thesaurus.com
• confront 
• drive away www.thesaurus.com
• drive off 
• fend off www.thesaurus.com
• hold off 
• rebuff 
• resist 
• ward off 
• withstand