verb
repulse
rih-PUHLS
verb
1
To drive back an attack or attacker.
"The defenders repulsed three waves of assault before nightfall."
"The army repulsed the invasion at the border."
2
To cause someone to feel strong disgust.
"The smell from the dumpster repulsed everyone who walked past."
noun
1
An instance of driving something back, or of being rejected.
"The general reported a decisive repulse of the enemy forces."
How to Use Repulse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo beat back an attack, or to disgust someone.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "repulsion" (the noun for the feeling of disgust or a physical force) — "repulse" is mainly the verb, though it can also be a noun for a military setback.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
repulse an attack
repulse the enemy
Word Forms
repulsed past tense, repulses plural, repulses singular
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The defenders _____ three waves of assault before nightfall.
Etymology
From Latin repulsus, past participle of repellere, "to drive back" — from re- ("back") plus pellere ("to drive").