REPEL
What does "REPEL" mean?
To drive or force back, or to cause strong dislike.
Meanings
- To drive back or fight off an attack or attacker. The defenders repelled three assaults before dawn.
- To cause a feeling of disgust or aversion. The smell of the alley repelled her.
- To push away by a physical force, especially magnetic or electric. Like poles of a magnet repel each other. technical
- To keep out or resist the entry of a substance. The coating repels water and oil alike.
Word origin
From Latin 'repellere', 'to drive back', from 're-' ('back') plus 'pellere' ('to drive, push'); the same 'pellere' gives 'compel', 'expel', and 'propel'.
Remember it
RE-PEL: 'pel' means push (as in proPEL). Repel pushes back.
A little poem
Two magnets meet and neither one will yield-
the closer pressed, the harder pushed afield.
couplet
Wordplay
- I asked the magnet why we never got close. It said it had nothing against me personally - it just felt repelled.
What it teaches
The force that keeps an enemy out is the same force that keeps a friend at arm's length; aim it carefully.
Quick facts
What does REPEL mean?
To drive or force back, or to cause strong dislike.
Is REPEL a valid word?
Yes — REPEL is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is REPEL?
REPEL has 5 letters and 2 syllables.
Where does REPEL come from?
From Latin 'repellere', 'to drive back', from 're-' ('back') plus 'pellere' ('to drive, push'); the same 'pellere' gives 'compel', 'expel', and 'propel'.
What can REPEL teach us?
The force that keeps an enemy out is the same force that keeps a friend at arm's length; aim it carefully.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.