repulse — to drive back an attacking force; to repel by force
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to drive back an attacking force; to repel by force
Pronunciation (IPA): /rɪˈpʌls/
Example Sentences
- My little brother's socks smell so bad that they repulse the entire family at dinner.
- The castle's defenders repulsed three separate attacks before finally surrendering.
- I was repulsed by the sight of my roommate's three-week-old leftover pizza.
repulse
VERB[/rɪˈpʌls/]
to drive back an attacking force; to repel by force
The defenders repulse the invaders at the castle gate with a fierce counterattack.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin repellere, formed by the prefix re- (back, again) and pellere (to drive, push). Originally denoted the physical act of driving back or thrusting away, later extending to military contexts meaning to repel an enemy, and eventually acquiring an emotional sense of causing disgust or revulsion that makes one recoil.
Breakdown
re- (back, again) + pellere (to drive, push, thrust) = repellere, literally 'to push back.' The root pellere also appears in pulse, reflecting the fundamental sense of pushing or propelling motion.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My little brother's socks smell so bad that they repulse the entire family at dinner.”
“The castle's defenders repulsed three separate attacks before finally surrendering.”
“I was repulsed by the sight of my roommate's three-week-old leftover pizza.”
“The government forces repulsed the rebel uprising within a week.”
📚Related Words
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