repulse
verb /rɪˈpʌls/
/rɪˈpʌls/
(formal)Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they repulse | /rɪˈpʌls/ /rɪˈpʌls/ |
| he / she / it repulses | /rɪˈpʌlsɪz/ /rɪˈpʌlsɪz/ |
| past simple repulsed | /rɪˈpʌlst/ /rɪˈpʌlst/ |
| past participle repulsed | /rɪˈpʌlst/ /rɪˈpʌlst/ |
| -ing form repulsing | /rɪˈpʌlsɪŋ/ /rɪˈpʌlsɪŋ/ |
- [usually passive] repulse somebody to make somebody feel strong dislike synonym repel, disgust
- I was repulsed by the horrible smell.
- repulse somebody/something to fight somebody who is attacking you and drive them away synonym repel
- to repulse an attack/invasion/offensive
- repulse somebody/something to refuse to accept somebody’s help, attempts to be friendly, etc. synonym reject
- Each time I tried to help I was repulsed.
- She repulsed his advances.
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin repuls- ‘driven back’, from the verb repellere, from re- ‘back’ + pellere ‘to drive’.