Meaning & use

repulse

verb·Advanced

To cause strong disgust or distaste in someone, or to drive back an attacking force.

See it in a sentence

The smell from the garbage bin repulsed everyone who walked past it.

The defenders managed to repulse the enemy's assault after hours of fierce fighting.

A note on using this word

Repulse can mean either to disgust emotionally or to drive back militarily; context makes the intended sense clear.

Words with a similar meaning

disgustrepel

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Make it your own

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