Repulse1. (v. t.) To repel; to beat or drive back; as, to repulse an assault; to repulse the enemy.
2. (v. t.) To repel by discourtesy, coldness, or denial; to reject; to send away; as, to repulse a suitor or a proffer.
3. (n.) The act of repelling or driving back; also, the state of being repelled or driven back.
4. (n.) Figuratively: Refusal; denial; rejection; failure.
Thesaurus Entries
abjuration, abjure, abjurement, backfire, backlash, backlashing, bafflement, balk, be proof against, bear up, bear up against, beat back, beat off, block, boomerang, bounce, bound, brush aside, brush off, brush-off, carom, challenge, chase, chase away, chase off, check, checkmate, chuck, chuck out, chucking, chucking out, cold shoulder, cold-shoulder, combative reaction, complaint, confusion, contemn, contempt, contradict, contradiction, contrecoup, counter, counteraction, cut, cut direct, declination, decline, declining, defiance, defy, demur, denial, deny, despisal, despise, despising, disapproval, disapprove, discard, disclaim, disclamation, discomfiture, discount, discounting, disdain, dismiss, dismissal, disown, disownment, dispute, disregard, dissent, dissentience, drive away, drive back, endure, except, exception, exclude, exclusion, fend, fend off, flat refusal, foil, forswear, fractiousness, frustration, high-hat, hinder, hold at bay, hold off, hold out, hold up, humiliation, ignore, ignoring, keep at bay, keep off, kick, kickback, nauseate, negativism, nonacceptance, nonapproval, nonconsideration, noncooperation, not receive, objection, obstinacy, obstruct, opposition, pack off, parry, pass by, pass up, passing by, passive resistance, point-blank refusal, protest, push aside, push back, put back, putting away, putting out, reaction, rebound, rebuff, rebut, recalcitrance, recalcitrancy, recalcitration, recant, recantation, recoil, refractoriness, refusal, refuse, refuse to consider, refuse to receive, reject, rejection, reluct, reluctance, remonstrance, renitence, renitency, renounce, renouncement, repel, repellence, repellency, repercussion, repudiate, repudiation, repulsion, resilience, resist, resistance, reversal, reverse, revolt, ricochet, rout, scout, scouting, send away, send off, send packing, setback, short shrift, shove away, sicken, slight, sneer, sniff, snort, snub, spring, spurn, spurning, stand, stand up, stave off, stop, summary negative, the cold shoulder, the go-by, throw away, throw out, throwing out, thrust back, turn aside, turn away, turn away from, turn back, turn down, turn out, turning out, uncooperativeness, upstage, waive, ward off, withstand, withstanding