1
as in repulses
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 disgusts
to cause to feel disgust
the idea of chocolate-covered grasshoppers repels me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in resists
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 repels
The South China Morning Post stated that this molecule uses its rigid, bulky structure to physically shield the iron core from chemical attack, while its strong negative charge creates a force field that repels leaking particles.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Apr. 2026
Marigolds also give off an odor that repels garden pests while attracting pollinators with their warm, brilliant colors.
—Heather Bien, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
The Soil Is Hydrophobic After periods of drought, soil often repels or will not not absorb and hold water, this is called hydrophobic soil.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2026
The herby scent also repels flies, gnats, and some ticks.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
However, growing strongly scented rosemary plants near brassicas naturally repels many common garden pests, including cabbage moths.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Apr. 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
The front glass also includes an anti-smudge coating, fluorine, a material that repels grease and moisture.
—Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 16 Mar. 2026
The disguise simultaneously repels birds and larger predators, who have no interest in eating what appears to be excrement, while luring in the spider’s next dinner.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Apr. 2026
Marigolds also give off an odor that repels garden pests while attracting pollinators with their warm, brilliant colors.
—Heather Bien, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
The Soil Is Hydrophobic After periods of drought, soil often repels or will not not absorb and hold water, this is called hydrophobic soil.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2026
The herby scent also repels flies, gnats, and some ticks.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
However, growing strongly scented rosemary plants near brassicas naturally repels many common garden pests, including cabbage moths.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Apr. 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
The front glass also includes an anti-smudge coating, fluorine, a material that repels grease and moisture.
—Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 16 Mar. 2026
The disguise simultaneously repels birds and larger predators, who have no interest in eating what appears to be excrement, while luring in the spider’s next dinner.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repels
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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Charlie, though, is trying to keep them out of a country that thoroughly repulses him.—
Alexander Nazaryan,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The book resists tidy moral conclusions.—
Andrew Silow-Carroll,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
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Best of all, the Tony nominee smartly resists overplaying the joke, grounding the part enough that Brad's unraveling becomes funnier.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Just thinking about it totally sickens me.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Jan. 2026
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Listeria sickens about 1,250 Americans every year and causes approximately 172 deaths.—
News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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According to a survey conducted by Emerson College Polling in late March, a majority of Floridians — including a majority of independents — opposes mid-decade redistricting.—
Allyson Meyers,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
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Take the issue of AI data centers, which Fishback opposes in Florida due to their high cost of operation.—
Thomas C. Shank,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repels. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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