repel

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'repel' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it as a verb to denote something pushing away or rejecting something, or attempting to push away or reject something. For example: "The dog repels anyone who tries to pet him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Although I do not support British soldiers fighting on the ground, we have to do everything else we can to provide the Kurds with the equipment they need to repel attacks and to stop Isis and its medieval barbarism.

The Guardian

We've always been fascinated by aged bodies, particularly bodies, like those of Falstaff, Mr Burns, even Jimmy Savile, which seem to maintain charisma even as they repel us.

The Guardian - Opinion

A stone citadel built in 1781 to repel bandits, the Ajyad fortress's demolition sparked an international outcry in 2002, but this was quickly rebuffed by the Saudi Islamic affairs minister.

The Guardian - Arts

Is it possible, they ask, to repel vampires with garlic?

The Guardian

The beam can repel and attract objects using a hollow laser beam that is bright around the edges and dark in its centre.

The Guardian - Tech

Only Labour can repel the narrow nationalism of the Conservative right in England and the SNP in Scotland.

The Guardian - Opinion

On the shore, a Chilean warship sits to repel invaders.

The Guardian - Travel

Mike Rothman, a researcher at Securosis, a security firm, explains in a white paper that hardware designed to repel such attacks can be bypassed using encrypted connections (HTTPS sessions), which are typically handled directly by the server.

The Economist

That is largely because the word "evangelical" tends to repel blacks, most of whom would describe themselves as "born again".

The Economist

For their part, lefty ideologues want to stir Republicans into such a fury that they repel voters in 2016.

The Economist

With support, the Afghan government, despite its many deficiencies, looks resilient enough to repel the Taliban from the main cities and economic centres.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "repel" in a scientific context, ensure that you clearly specify what is being repelled and the force causing the repulsion. For example, "The magnetic field repels the charged particles."

Common error

Avoid using "repel from" when "repel" already implies a movement away from something. Use "repel" + object directly, such as "repel invaders" instead of "repel from invaders".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "repel" is as a transitive verb, indicating an action performed on an object to force it away. Ludwig AI provides many examples of this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "repel" functions as a transitive verb meaning to push or force something away. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical standing and frequent usage across various domains such as news, business, and science. While generally neutral in register, context dictates formality. Common usage involves averting threats or rejecting advances, but careful attention should be paid to avoid unnecessary prepositions like "from". Alternative phrases include "fend off" and "ward off". Remember to consider the specific nuance you intend to convey when choosing between these options. The high frequency and authoritative sourcing confirms that "repel" is a very common verb with clear guidelines for effective use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fend off

This alternative emphasizes the act of defending against something, often an attack or unwanted advance.

ward off

Similar to 'fend off', this phrase suggests preventing something negative from affecting you, often through proactive measures.

drive away

This suggests forcing something or someone to leave or stay away.

fight off

Implies a struggle or active resistance to push back against an opposing force or influence.

hold back

This conveys restraining or preventing something from advancing or succeeding.

push back

Suggests a forceful action to resist or oppose something.

rebuff

This term indicates a direct and often abrupt rejection of an offer, request, or advance.

reject

This is a general term for refusing to accept or approve something.

deter

This implies discouraging someone from doing something through fear or doubt.

avert

This suggests preventing something undesirable from happening.

FAQs

How can I use "repel" in a sentence?

You can use "repel" to describe the act of pushing something away, either physically or metaphorically. For example, "The spray is designed to "repel mosquitoes"" or "His arrogance tends to "repel potential allies"".

What's the difference between "repel" and "repulse"?

"Repel" and "repulse" are often used interchangeably, but "repel" tends to refer to a more general act of pushing away, while "repulse" can imply a stronger feeling of disgust or aversion in addition to the act of rejection. For example, a shield might "repel attacks", while an offensive smell might "repulse someone".

What can I say instead of "repel"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "fend off", "ward off", or "drive away" to express a similar meaning to "repel".

Is it correct to say "repel from"?

While not strictly incorrect, it's more common and grammatically streamlined to simply use "repel" followed by the object being pushed away. For example, prefer "repel invaders" over "repel from invaders".