transitive verb repelled, repelling
- to drive or force back; hold or ward off: to repel an attack
- to refuse to accept, agree to, or submit to; reject: to repel advances
- to refuse to accept (a person); spurn: to repel a suitor
- to cause distaste or dislike in; disgust: the odor repelled him
- to cause (insects, etc.) to react by staying away
- to be resistant to, or present an opposing force to: a coating that repels moisture
- to fail to mix with or adhere to: water repels oil
Origin:
ME repellen < L repellere, to drive back < re-, back + pellere, to drive: see pulse