There are plants that repel insects.
Source: tatoeba (243502)
Repel
/ɹɪˈpɛl/
Synonyms for "repel" (202 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (41)
Strong matches (60)
Related words (101)
hold uphorrifyignoreindisposekeep at baykeep fromkeep offnauseateobstructobviateoffendopposepack offparrypass bypass upprecludepreventprohibitpush aside
Show 49 more words
push backput backput offquenchrebuffrebutrecantrefuserefuse to considerrefuse to receiverejectreluctrenouncerepudiaterepulseresistrevoltrule outsavescoutsend awaysend offsend packingshockshove awaysickensnubspurnstandstand upstave offstopthrow awaythrow outthrust backtraverseturnturn asideturn awayturn backturn fromturn offturn outturn the stomachwaiveward offweanwean fromwithstand
Verb(18 words)
Adjective(3 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: disgust, push back, rebuff, repulse, abjure.
- Sentence evidence is available for repel, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "repel".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "repel"
Keep "repel" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "repel" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "repel", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "repel" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
24 entriesShowing 16 of 24 words.
More specific
9 entriesCollocations
6 entriesmosquito repellentrepel a chargerepel intrudersrepel like chargesrepel moisturerepel pests
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
1 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
13 total sentences available.
The people could repel the invasion.
Source: tatoeba (270470)
Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government's purposes are beneficent. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding.
Source: tatoeba (906994)
I call the living, I mourn the dead, I repel lightning.
Source: tatoeba (2124941)
Showing 4 of 13 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "repel"?
Closest matches include disgust, push back, rebuff, repulse, abjure.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "repel"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.