repulse

present singular third person repulses · participle present repulsing · participle past repulsed · past repulsed

1. transitiveTo repel or drive back.

   to repulse an assault; to repulse the enemy

   1 more example

   If we fail to repulse the enemy within the gates--unemployment, poverty, disorganized agriculture and the like--from whence may we expect the united strength and clear purpose to repulse any outside force?

   1939 December 5, J. W. Studebaker, Democracy Shall Not Be Plowed Under, page 9

2. transitiveTo reject or rebuff.

   to repulse a suitor

   1 more example

   At the end of a week, she could bear the suspense no longer, and so went humbly to her old home and sought forgiveness. She was not repulsed, but her reception was cold; and this hurt her almost as badly.

   1850, T. S. Arthur, “Happy on a Little”, in Sketches of Life and Character, Philadelphia: J. W. Bradley, →OCLC, page 89

3. transitiveTo cause revulsion in; to repel.

   The smell of rotting food repulsed me.

   1 more example

   I find your conduct reprehensible, disgusting, and it repulses me, the way a mongoose repulses a snake.

plural repulses

1. The act of repulsing or the state of being repulsed.
2. Refusal, rejection or repulsion.