Repel (r-pl), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Repelled (-pld); p. pr. & vb. n. Repelling.]
Etymology: [L. repellere, repulsum; pref. re- re- + pellere to drive. See Pulse a beating, and cf. Repulse, Repeal.]
1. To drive back; to force to return; to check the advance of; to repulse as, to repel an enemy or an assailant. Hippomedon repelled the hostile tide. Pope. They repelled each other strongly, and yet attracted each other strongly. Macaulay.
2. To resist or oppose effectually; as, to repel an assault, an encroachment, or an argument. [He] gently repelled their entreaties. Hawthorne.
Syn. -- Tu repulse; resist; oppose; reject; refuse.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Repel, v. i.
To act with force in opposition to force impressed; to exercise repulsion.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for repel; he lists it under drive, refute.
Where he writes about it:
One may be driven to a thing or from it; hence, drive is a synonym equally for compel or for repel or repulse. — from drive
Repulse is stronger and more conclusive than repel; one may be repelled by the very aspect of the person whose favor he seeks, but is not repulsed except by the direct refusal or ignoring of his suit. — from drive