1. (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.

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