repel

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to successfully keep something away, like water or insects.

v. to resist or keep out a substance or organism by physical or chemical properties.

“This new jacket is designed to repel water even in heavy rain.”

“The chemical coating is engineered to repel common garden pests without harming the plants themselves.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to make someone feel a strong sense of dislike or disgust.

v. to cause a feeling of strong aversion, distaste, or disgust in another person.

“The violent scenes in the movie repelled many viewers.”

“His arrogant attitude and lack of empathy tended to repel potential business partners before negotiations could even begin.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Science Technical

v. to push something away using a physical force, like magnets.

v. to exert a force on an object that tends to push it away; the opposite of attract.

“The two positive ends of the magnets repel each other.”

“In electrostatics, particles with the same electric charge repel one another with a force proportional to the magnitude of the charges.”

C1 · Advanced Formal

v. to refuse to accept a request or a suggestion.

v. to reject or refuse to accept a formal request, demand, or offer.

“The committee repelled his suggestion to change the company logo.”

“The board of directors repelled the hostile takeover bid, citing a lack of transparency in the financing.”