repulse

[ ri-puhls ]
See synonyms for: repulserepulsedrepulsing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),re·pulsed, re·puls·ing.
  1. to drive back; repel: to repulse an assailant.

  2. to repel with denial, discourtesy, or the like; refuse or reject.

  1. to cause feelings of repulsion in: The scenes of violence in the film may repulse some viewers.

noun
  1. the act of repelling.

  2. the fact of being repelled, as in hostile encounter.

  1. a refusal or rejection.

Origin of repulse

1
1375–1425; late Middle English <Latin repulsus, past participle of repellere to repel

Other words for repulse

Other words from repulse

  • re·puls·er, noun
  • un·re·pulsed, adjective
  • un·re·puls·ing, adjective

Words Nearby repulse

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use repulse in a sentence

  • Her repulse was a mortal offence: small minds never forget, much less pardon a rebuke to their vanity, and he inly swore revenge.

    Alone | Marion Harland
  • In a sortie Bohemond the crafty and brave was wounded; Tancred's and Godfrey's valor ended in repulse.

    God Wills It! | William Stearns Davis

British Dictionary definitions for repulse

repulse

/ (rɪˈpʌls) /


verb(tr)
  1. to drive back or ward off (an attacking force); repel; rebuff

  2. to reject with coldness or discourtesy: she repulsed his advances

  1. to produce a feeling of aversion or distaste

noun
  1. the act or an instance of driving back or warding off; rebuff

  2. a cold discourteous rejection or refusal

Origin of repulse

1
C16: from Latin repellere to drive back, repel

usage For repulse

Some people think that the use of repulse in sentences such as he was repulsed by what he saw is incorrect and that the correct word is repel

Derived forms of repulse

  • repulser, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012