repulse

repulse (rɪˈpʌls)

—vb
1.	to drive back or ward off (an attacking force); repel; rebuff
2.	to reject with coldness or discourtesy: she repulsed his advances
3.	to produce a feeling of aversion or distaste

—n
4.	the act or an instance of driving back or warding off; rebuff
5.	a cold discourteous rejection or refusal

[C16: from Latin repellere to drive back, repel]

usage Some people think that the use of repulse in sentences such as he was repulsed by what he saw is incorrect and that the correct word is repel

re'pulser

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Example sentences

The two north poles push away, or repulse, each other.

Males are also expected to develop masculine traits that repulse or threaten rival and attract females.

They might have been carefully orchestrated to repulse independent voters.

In fresh wat er, particles of sediment are negatively charged and tend to repulse one another.

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Related Words

repel foil

repulsion sicken

Matching Quote

"He began therefore to invest the fortress of my heart by a circumvallation of distant bows and respectful looks; he then entrenched his forces in the deep caution of never uttering an unguarded word or syllable. His designs being yet covered, he played off from several quarters a large battery of compliments. But here he found a repulse from the enemy by an absolute rejection of such fulsome praise, and this forced him back again close into his former trenches."

-Sarah Fielding