Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Repulse

//ɹɪˈpʌls// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The act of repulsing or the state of being repulsed.
  2. 2
    an instance of driving away or warding off wordnet
  3. 3
    Refusal, rejection or repulsion.
Verb
  1. 1
    To repel or drive back. transitive

    "to repulse an assault; to repulse the enemy"

  2. 2
    force or drive back wordnet
  3. 3
    To reject or rebuff. transitive

    "to repulse a suitor"

  4. 4
    cause to move back by force or influence wordnet
  5. 5
    To cause revulsion in; to repel. transitive

    "The smell of rotting food repulsed me."

Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    be repellent to; cause aversion in wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Latin repulsus, from repellere (“to drive back”), from re- (“back”) + pellere (“to drive”). For spelling, as in pulse, the -e (on -lse) is so the end is pronounced /ls/, rather than /lz/ as in pulls, and does not change the vowel (‘u’). Compare else, false, convulse.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Latin repulsus, from repellere (“to drive back”), from re- (“back”) + pellere (“to drive”). For spelling, as in pulse, the -e (on -lse) is so the end is pronounced /ls/, rather than /lz/ as in pulls, and does not change the vowel (‘u’). Compare else, false, convulse.

See also for "repulse"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: repulse