Repulse

This meaning is about successfully fighting off an attack and forcing the enemy to retreat. Imagine a small group of defenders holding a hilltop position while a much larger force charges toward them. They fire back with everything they have and the attackers are forced to fall back. This is repulsing an attack. You might read “government troops repulsed the rebel offensive” or “the invasion was repulsed after three days of fierce fighting.” Or picture a medieval castle where defenders pour boiling water over the walls to repulse the soldiers trying to climb up. The word suggests successful resistance against a powerful force. ✏️ This meaning is mostly found in military and historical writing — you’ll see it in news reports, history books, and war documentaries.

This meaning is about pushing someone away when they try to be friendly, helpful, or romantic — often in a cold or rude way. Imagine a colleague offering to help you with a difficult project, and instead of politely declining, you snap at them and tell them to mind their own business. That harsh rejection is repulsing someone. You might read “she repulsed his romantic advances” or “every time I tried to help, I was repulsed.” Or think about someone reaching out to an old friend who has become bitter and distant — every attempt at reconnection gets coldly shut down. The word suggests a sharp, almost hostile rejection. ✏️ This meaning often appears with “advances” — “repulse someone’s advances” is a set phrase meaning to firmly reject romantic attention.

This meaning is the noun form — it describes either the act of successfully fighting off an attack or the experience of being coldly rejected. Imagine reading a history book that describes how a city’s defenders achieved a remarkable repulse of an invading army against all odds. Or think about someone trying to ask their boss for a raise and receiving such a cold, dismissive repulse that they never bring it up again. You might read “the repulse of the enemy forces was celebrated across the country” or “his polite request met with an icy repulse.” Or picture a diplomat whose peace proposal receives a sharp repulse from the other side. The word carries a sense of being firmly pushed away. ✏️ As a noun, repulse is quite formal — in everyday conversation, people are more likely to say “rejection” or “defeat” instead.