repulse

[ri-puhls]

verb (used with object)

repulsed, repulsing 

1. to drive back; repel.

   to repulse an assailant.

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

   Synonyms: snub, shun, spurn, rebuff

3. 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.

3. a refusal or rejection.

repulse

/ rɪˈpʌls /

verb

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

2. to reject with coldness or discourtesy

   she repulsed his advances

3. 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

Usage

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

Other Word Forms

• repulser noun
• unrepulsed adjective
• unrepulsing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of repulse¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of repulse¹

C16: from Latin repellere to drive back, _repel

Example Sentences

“Many who have stuck with Labour so far will be repulsed by these attacks on vulnerable people fleeing war and persecution,” said Richard Burgon, a Labour lawmaker.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“The nation has woken up on a war footing, ready to repulse any attack,” Castro declared.

Read more on Literature

Elizabeth is also the conscience of the piece, befriending the Creature and being alternately attracted to Victor and repulsed by what she sees as his moral degeneracy—never mind his abdication of parental responsibility.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Everyone should be repulsed by the attempts to use the power of the federal government against their neighbors, their friends, and our families,” Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson said Wednesday.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"The Taiwanese people can relate to it as it reflects our current situation, the Chinese Communist Party must be repulsed as their tactics have been exposed."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• fend off www.thesaurus.com
• overthrow 
• put down 
• rebuff 
• repel 
• resist