repel, repulse

repel, repulse
Because each of these words can mean "to drive back," they are often misused in situations where their meanings should be distinct. One can repel or repulse someone who attempts to mug him, but only repel conveys the idea of disgust, aversion, and loathing: "His rude manner repelled everyone at the party." Repulse is commonly associated with repulsive, which does mean "disgusting" or "offensive," but repulse means only "to turn away," "to reject," or "to refuse": "This girl repulsed every boy who wanted to dance with her because all of them repelled her."

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • repel, repulse —    Not to be confused. Repulse means to drive back: The army repulsed the enemy s attack. It should not be confused with repulsive, meaning to cause repugnance. Repel is the word for causing squeamishness or distaste: The idea of eating squid… …   Dictionary of troublesome word

  • repel, repulse —    Not to be confused. Repulse means to drive back: The army repulsed the enemy s attack. It should not be confused with repulsive, meaning to cause repugnance. Repel is the word for causing squeamishness or distaste: The idea of eating squid… …   Dictionary of troublesome word

  • repulse — See repel. See repel, repulse …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • repel — See repel, repulse …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • Repulse — Re*pulse (r? p?ls ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Repulsed} ( p?lst ); p. pr. & vb. n. {Repulsing}.] [L. repulsus, p. p. of repellere. See {Repel}.] 1. To repel; to beat or drive back; as, to repulse an assault; to repulse the enemy. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Repel — Re**pel (r? p?l ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Repelled} ( p?ld ); p. pr. & vb. n. {Repelling}.] [L. repellere, repulsum; pref. re re + pellere to drive. See {Pulse} a beating, and cf. {Repulse}, {Repeal}.] 1. To drive back; to force to return; to check …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • repulse — [n] snub; rejection brush off*, check, cold shoulder*, defeat, disappointment, failure, nix*, nothing doing*, rebuff, refusal, reverse, slap in the face*, spurning, thumbs down*, turndown; concepts 388,674 Ant. attraction, enchantment repulse… …   New thesaurus

  • repel — I (disgust) verb alienate, appall, be unpalatable, cause aversion, cause dislike, displease, excite dislike, fill with loathing, frighten, give offense, grate, horrify, incense, irritate, make one shudder, make one sick, make unwelcome, nauseate …   Law dictionary

  • repulse — I verb beat back, beat off, chase, check, counteract, countervail, defeat, dispel, drive away, drive back, eschew, fend off, frustrate, gainsay, grapple with, hinder, impede, keep at bay, make a stand, obstruct, oppose, oppugn, overthrow,… …   Law dictionary

  • repel — [v1] push away; repulse beat back, beat off, brush off, buck, cast aside, chase away, check, confront, cool*, cut, decline, dismiss, disown, dispute, drive away, drive back, drive off, duel, fend off, fight, force back, force off, give cold… …   New thesaurus

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