as in rebuffs
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 disgusts
to cause to feel disgust the smell of that town's paper mill totally repulses me
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2
as in repels
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 repulses
Daniel Felsenthal, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2026 Charlie, though, is trying to keep them out of a country that thoroughly repulses him. —Alexander Nazaryan, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
Sigmund Freud believed that every crush has a strand of disgust, that people are attracted to what repulses them. —Daniel Felsenthal, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2026 Charlie, though, is trying to keep them out of a country that thoroughly repulses him. —Alexander Nazaryan, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repulses
Verb
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The scent even repels some larger animals that may like to snack on your plants, according to Accime.— Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 15 Apr. 2026
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The herby scent also repels flies, gnats, and some ticks.— Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Justice Department has appealed the Oregon, California and Michigan dismissals.— Rebecca Boone, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
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Many of these dismissals were a result of the difference between what police need to arrest and what prosecutors need to prove guilt — which is a much higher burden, said DA spokesperson Mike Stolp.— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Just thinking about it totally sickens me.— R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Listeria sickens about 1,250 Americans every year and causes approximately 172 deaths.— News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The bed resists public-facing things, hence its charge as a womb to tomb motif.— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
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The legislation would create uniform statewide standards, replacing the current patchwork of local ordinances, an approach that has the backing of the Illinois Municipal League, which typically resists state efforts to preempt home rule authority.— Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The season’s three biggest acting snubs got to introduce their casting directors during this segment, which was a nice way to give them flowers for strong performances.— William Earl, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
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Just about any set of nominations, let alone wins, comes with articles citing surprises and snubs.— Rich Heldenfels, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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When John begins spitting out his food, his mother, Heather (Shirley Henderson), worn down by exhaustion and anger, banishes him from the dinner table—the first in an unceasing series of maternal rejections.— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
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McElroy's decision is similar to other rejections by federal judges across country since the Justice Department began seeking detailed voter data from the states.— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repulses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/repulses. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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