repulse

1 of 2

verb

re·pulse ri-ˈpəls

repulsed; repulsing

Synonyms of repulse next

transitive verb

: to drive or beat back : repel

: to repel by discourtesy, coldness, or denial

: to cause repulsion in

repulse

2 of 2

noun

: rebuff, rejection

: the action of repelling an attacker : the fact of being repelled

Examples of repulse in a Sentence

Verb The troops repulsed the attack. I was repulsed by the movie's violence. The moldy bread repulsed him. He repulsed all attempts to help him. Noun the waiter's incredibly rude repulse of our polite request for a better table—one that wasn't right next to the kitchen—prompted us to walk out

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Verb

But what was considered heroic in one era can repulse future generations. —

Elizabeth Blackwell, Longreads, 14 Nov. 2024 Neither club emerges with any credit from the several days Gallagher spent in limbo in Madrid or training alone at Cobham, and the cold accounting calculations involved on both sides reflect ‘Big Football’ in 2024 in a way that understandably repulses many people. —

Liam Twomey, The Athletic, 21 Aug. 2024

Noun

The optical, stop-motion, and puppetry effects alone should make Brain Damage a priority on your watchlist, but Henenlotter’s film excites and repulses on a deeper level. —

Rory Doherty, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024 The irony, of course, is that Irma’s very presence repulses Larry to his core. —

Sarah Nechamkin, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for repulse

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English repulsen "to hold back, drive away," probably in part borrowed from Latin repulsus, past participle of repellere "to push away, drive back, fend off," in part borrowed from Middle French repulser "to drive back, put an end to," borrowed from Latin repulsāre "to drive back, repudiate," frequentative of repellere — more at repel

Noun

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, "action of pushing back, rejection," borrowed in part from Latin repulsa "electoral defeat, check, rebuff" (noun derivative from feminine of repulsus, past participle of repellere "to push away, drive back, fend off"), in part from repulsus "action of forcing back," verbal noun from repellere — more at repel

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of repulse was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Repulse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repulse. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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Kids Definition

repulse

1 of 2 verb

re·pulse ri-ˈpəls

repulsed; repulsing

: to drive or beat back : repel

repulse an attack

: to cause dislike or disgust in

repulse

2 of 2 noun

: a cold unfriendly rejection

: the action of driving back an attacker

Last Updated: 30 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

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repulse

verb

noun

Synonyms

Examples of repulse in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near repulse

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition