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   repel

   /rɪˈpɛl/

   verb

   • 1. drive or force (an attack or attacker) back or away: "they sought to repel the enemy with their machine guns" Similar fight offrepulsedrive back/awayput to flightforce backbeat backpush backthrust backhold offward offfend offstand offstave offparrykeep at baykeep at arm's lengthfoilcheckfrustratesee offinformal:send packingarchaic:rebut
   • ▪ (of a magnetic pole or electric field) force (something similarly magnetized or charged) away from itself: "electrically charged objects attract or repel one another"
   • ▪ (of a substance) resist mixing with or be impervious to (another substance): "boots with good-quality leather uppers to repel moisture" Similar be impervious tobe impermeable tokeep outbe resistant toresistOpposite attractabsorblet through
   • 2. be repulsive or distasteful to: "she was repelled by the permanent smell of drink on his breath" Similar revoltdisgustrepulsesickennauseatemake someone feel sickturn someone's stomachbe repulsive tobe extremely distasteful tobe repugnant tomake shuddermake someone's flesh creepmake someone's skin crawlmake someone's gorge riseput offoffendhorrifyinformal:turn offgive someone the creepsgive someone the heebie-jeebiesmake someone want to throw upgross outOpposite delight
   • 3. refuse to accept (something, especially an argument or theory): formal "the alleged right of lien led by the bankrupt's solicitor was repelled"

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Latin repellere, from re- ‘back’ + pellere ‘to drive’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. repeller noun

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • P

     3

   • E

     1

   • L

     1

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