as in dismissal
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to disgust
to cause to feel disgust
the smell of that town's paper mill totally repulses me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to repel
to drive back
the defense repeatedly repulsed all of the offense's attempts to move the ball forward, keeping them firmly planted on the 20-yard line
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of repulse
Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2021
Yet Mr Trump’s decision to change course represents neither a disastrous retreat nor a major moral repulse.
—The Economist, 23 June 2018
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024
Next to this official discourse, several Russian security experts have even promoted the idea of launching a preemptive strike to repulse a knockout of Russia’s nuclear arsenal.
—Dmitry Adamsky, Foreign Affairs, 19 May 2023
See all Example Sentences for repulse 
Noun
Stories about chemical and biological weapons are often oversold, for the same reason stories of cannibalistic serial killers are: Peculiar forms of murder repulse and excite us, and old-fashioned forms do not.
—Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2021
Yet Mr Trump’s decision to change course represents neither a disastrous retreat nor a major moral repulse.
—The Economist, 23 June 2018
Verb
Dexter is repulsed by the whole scene, and really who can blame him?
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024
Next to this official discourse, several Russian security experts have even promoted the idea of launching a preemptive strike to repulse a knockout of Russia’s nuclear arsenal.
—Dmitry Adamsky, Foreign Affairs, 19 May 2023
See all Example Sentences for repulse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repulse
Noun
-
Just four months later, he was asked to hold the fort as interim head coach at one of the world’s biggest clubs following Ten Hag’s dismissal.—
Rob Tanner,
The Athletic,
6 Feb. 2025
-
An ex-member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), whom President Trump fired last month, filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging her dismissal and asking a federal court to reinstate her to the board.—
Emily Peck,
Axios,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
People were so curious about it — disgusted, but drawn.—
Angela Andaloro,
People.com,
9 Jan. 2025
-
King was disgusted upon seeing the conditions of the building; a baby was wrapped in newspaper for warmth.—
Erik Wallenberg,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The men in Izzy’s life each represent a world to her, so she’s initially drawn to a successful uptown author (Jeroen Krabbé) and repelled by Sam’s working class surroundings.—
Jason Bailey,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2025
-
Still in the throes of grief, Bridget has yet to return to the dating scene and is, at first, repelled by the thought of it.—
Olivia-Anne Cleary,
TIME,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Their attorneys fought the charges and resisted the Justice Department's previous efforts to keep the cases moving forward on appeal after Mr. Trump's election win.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Tory Burch, known for its 2000s Reva ballet flat that even Oprah herself couldn’t resist wearing, is experiencing somewhat of a Tory Burch renaissance these past couple years.—
Gina Vaynshteyn,
StyleCaster,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
This business is so full of rejections, no matter how good the script is.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2025
-
This moment of isolation is a powerful visual cue that no one truly sees or understands her, amplifying her sense of rejection.—
Bill Desowitz,
IndieWire,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Bird flu, also known as H5N1, is a variant of the influenza virus that sickens tens of millions of people every winter.—
Karen Weintraub,
USA TODAY,
7 Feb. 2025
-
The strain has also sickened 67 people and caused one death.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Here are the top five biggest snubs from this season: 5.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
31 Jan. 2025
-
Watch on Deadline After the flurry of nominations announcements, next comes the inevitable lists of nomination snubs and surprises.—
Cathy Schulman,
Deadline,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Dismay or appall you, sure, but never surprise you.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Dec. 2024
-
That kind of appalls me to think that people need not expect that of themselves.—
David Marchese Photograph by Mamadi Doumbouya,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near repulse
Cite this Entry
“Repulse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repulse. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share