repel
Force to retreat
To repel is to drive back or away.
Armies repel invaders.
Insect repellent repels mosquitoes.
Magnets with like poles repel each other.
The word extends to emotional rejection: something repellent disgusts or repels you, pushing you away psychologically: The smell repelled me.
A person can repel unwanted advances or attention.
Force something away
- deflectTurn from course
- bounceSpring back after impact
- ricochetAngled deflection off surface
- thrustForceful forward motion
force · drive · eject · disperse · scatter · displace · rebuff · fend
Remain intact despite pressure
- opposeAct against something
- defyResist or challenge openly
- rejectDismiss as unsuitable
- rebuffAbrupt, curt rejection
refuse · counteract · thwart · deter · spurn · dismiss · snub · cold-shoulder
Induce queasiness or revulsion
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
- sickenCause illness or disgust
- disgustIntense physical aversion
- offendCause hurt feelings
gross · turn-off · repugnant · repulsive · off-putting · stomach-turning · vile · foul
Handheld defensive armor
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- armorProtective combat covering
- fortifyMake stronger against threat
- protectKeep from harm
guard · deflector · bulwark · barricade · blockade · rampart · bunker · citadel
Cylindrical shaft or extremity
- polarityState of opposing forces
- northArctic-facing cardinal direction
- southCardinal direction opposite north
- ferromagnetismStrong atomic magnetic alignment
diamagnetism · paramagnetism · flux · field · force · electromagnetic · charge · electron
Toxic agent targeting pests
- mosquitoBlood-feeding flying pest
- DEETInsect-repelling chemical compound
- sprayDispersed liquid droplets
- citronellaAromatic insect-deterring oil
permethrin · bug-spray · deterrent · mothball · coil · ultrasonic · netting · lotion
push
Force something away
thrust · force · drive · eject · disperse · scatter · displace · rebuff · fend · parry
withstand
Remain intact despite pressure
rebuff · refuse · counteract · thwart · deter · spurn · dismiss · snub · cold-shoulder
nauseate
Induce queasiness or revulsion
offend · gross · turn-off · repugnant · repulsive · off-putting · stomach-turning · vile · foul · odious
shield
Handheld defensive armor
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- armorProtective combat covering
- fortifyMake stronger against threat
protect · guard · deflector · bulwark · barricade · blockade · rampart · bunker · citadel · stronghold
pole
Cylindrical shaft or extremity
- polarityState of opposing forces
- northArctic-facing cardinal direction
- southCardinal direction opposite north
ferromagnetism · diamagnetism · paramagnetism · flux · field · force · electromagnetic · charge · electron · ion
insecticide
Toxic agent targeting pests
- mosquitoBlood-feeding flying pest
- DEETInsect-repelling chemical compound
- sprayDispersed liquid droplets
citronella · permethrin · bug-spray · deterrent · mothball · coil · ultrasonic · netting · lotion · picaridin
- bug repellentsbug spray, insect spray, DEET, picaridin, citronella
- defendprotect, shield, guard, block, resist
- opposeoppose, resist, defy, reject, refuse
- resistresist, oppose, defy, rebuff, refuse
- science verbsabsorb, accelerate, attract, bounce, collide
- magnetsmagnet, magnets, bar magnet, fridge magnet, bar magnets
- insect repellentSubstance deterring biting pests
- mosquito repellentSubstance deterring biting insects
- water repellentResists liquid penetration
- moth repellentSubstance deterring fabric pests
- prohibition repealLifting of alcohol restrictions
- tick repellentSubstance deterring parasitic arachnids
repellent, repeal, repulse, repelled, repelling, repels, repellant, repellents, repellence