Repel
/rɪˈpel/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo drive or force back or away; to keep at a distance; to be disgusting or offensive to.
/rɪˈpel/
To drive or force (something) back or away.
The coating on the fabric repels water.
💡 Simply: To push or keep something away. Like when you don't like a certain food, it repels you!
👶 For kids: To push something away. Like when you don't want to play with a toy, you might repel it.
More Examples
The smell of the garbage repelled me.
The security forces were able to repel the invaders.
How It's Used
"The soldiers repelled the enemy attack."
"Magnets repel each other if their poles are the same."
To cause (someone) to feel disgust or aversion.
/rɪˈpel/
To cause (someone) to feel disgust.
Her unkind words repelled many people.
💡 Simply: To make someone feel disgusted or not like you. Like when someone is rude, they repel other people.
👶 For kids: To make someone not like you or feel yucky.
More Examples
The cruelty of the dictator repelled most of his subjects.
His behavior repels me.
How It's Used
"His arrogant attitude repelled everyone."
"The patient's behavior repelled the therapist."
Synonyms & Antonyms
From Middle French *repeller*, from Latin *repellere* ('to drive back, repel'), from *re-* ('back, again') + *pellere* ('to drive, push').
The word 'repel' has been used since the 15th century to denote the action of driving something back.
Memory tip
Think of magnets repelling – pushing each other away. Or a shield repelling an arrow.
Word Origin
"to drive, push"