Verb: repel (repelled,repelling) ri'pel
- Cause to move back by force or influence
"repel the enemy";
- drive, repulse, force back, push back, beat back
- Force or drive back
"repel the attacker";
- repulse, fight off, rebuff, drive back
- Be repellent to; cause aversion in
"The idea of eating insects repelled him";
- repulse
- Reject outright and bluntly
"She repelled his proposal";
- rebuff, snub, stiff [N. Amer, informal]
- Fill with distaste
"This spoilt food repels me";
- disgust, gross out [informal], revolt
Derived forms: repelled, repelling, repels
Type of: defend, disdain, displease, dispute, excite, fight, fight back, fight down, force, freeze off [informal], oppose, pooh-pooh [informal], push, reject, scorn, spurn, stimulate, stir, turn down
Antonym: appeal
Encyclopedia: Repel