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
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1
as in to disgust
to cause to feel disgust the smell of that town's paper mill totally repulses me
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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
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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
Rory Doherty, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024 But many foresee a protracted, bitter conflict, particularly in the country’s east as Russian forces retrench after the humiliating repulse of their advance on Kyiv. —Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2022
Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026 Charlie, though, is trying to keep them out of a country that thoroughly repulses him. —Alexander Nazaryan, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for repulse
Noun
The optical, stop-motion, and puppetry effects alone should make Brain Damage a priority on your watchlist, but Henenlotter’s film excites and repulses on a deeper level. —Rory Doherty, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024 But many foresee a protracted, bitter conflict, particularly in the country’s east as Russian forces retrench after the humiliating repulse of their advance on Kyiv. —Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2022
Verb
After a disastrous trip to Mexico where Irina appeared repulsed by pretty much everything Zack did, the couple split and Zack crawled back to Bliss. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026 Charlie, though, is trying to keep them out of a country that thoroughly repulses him. —Alexander Nazaryan, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for repulse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repulse
Noun
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Red cards carry an automatic dismissal and a mandatory one-game benching.— Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
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That student had been let out of school early and returned to the area around dismissal, according to the report.— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The researchers also found that being young, female, and well educated increased the odds that someone would be moist averse, as did being disgusted more generally by bodily functions.— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
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Some were disgusted, while others were filled with joy.— Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That's because, while garlic is a delicious food that adds rich flavor to your favorite recipes, this pungent plant can also repel an assortment of common garden pests, from aphids to deer.— Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026
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Only a professional military can repel one of the world’s most powerful armies.— Nataliya Gumenyuk, The Dial, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Despite the Reina Sofía’s many refusals to lend the work to various institutions around the world, its rebuff of the Guggenheim’s request carries a particular sting because the Basque Country has long held that the painting belongs in the place where the depicted tragedy occurred.— News Desk, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2026
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The latest rebuff of state overreach was the dismissal last week of the highly questionable felony case against respected Waukegan City Clerk Janet Kilkelly brought by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.— Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The trial over visitation and grandparents' rights began in October 2025 and has made headlines with Scott claiming his late wife's parents are largely responsible for his wife's death and for gross medical misconduct that sickened his daughter.— Juliet Pennington, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
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Those pelican numbers were very high because of a toxic algae bloom off Southern California that sickened the birds with domoic acid poisoning.— Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The addition of the Kevlar core allowed the fiber to resist deformation and store enough energy to double its jumping height, which matches the capabilities of soil-dwelling insects like springtails.— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 23 Apr. 2026
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In January, Francisco Manzo was charged with assaulting a peace officer with a deadly weapon and four counts of resisting an officer.— Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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This election could reshape not just Hungary but signal a broader European rejection of the illiberal, nationalist movements Orbán inspired among the global far-right.— Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
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As GLP-1s become more ubiquitous, leading many to scramble after insurance rejections, both manufacturers are looking to draw in more customers who either prefer to avoid a needle or were unable to swing the out-of-pocket price.— Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Hiram Crombie is shocked and appalled that Jamie is taking the Trading Post from him and kicking him and the other men off Fraser’s Ridge?— Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
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The proposal appalled the science community and lawmakers.— Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repulse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/repulse. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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