Dictionary entries for 'repel'

Synonyms

re·pel (rĭ-pĕĺ)

[Middle English repellen, from Old French repeller, from Latin repellere, re-, re-, + pellere, to drive.]

verb: -pelled, -pel·ling, -pels.

To ward off or keep away; drive back: repel insects.
To offer resistance to; fight against: repel an invasion.
To refuse to accept; reject: a company that was trying to repel a hostile takeover.
To turn away from; spurn.
To cause aversion or distaste in: Your rudeness repels everyone. See synonyms at disgust See Usage Note at: repulse
To be resistant to; be incapable of absorbing or mixing with: Oil repels water.
Physics To present an opposing force to; push back or away by a force: Electric charges of the same sign repel one another.