Repulse (r-pls), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Repulsed (-plst); p. pr. & vb. n. Repulsing.]
Etymology: [L. repulsus, p. p. of repellere. See Repel.]
1. To repel; to beat or drive back; as, to repulse an assault; to repulse the enemy. Complete to have discovered and repulsed Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend. Milton.
2. To repel by discourtesy, coldness, or denial; to reject; to send away; as, to repulse a suitor or a proffer.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Repulse, n.
1. The act of repelling or driving back; also, the state of being repelled or driven back. By fate repelled, and with repulses tired. Denham. He received in the repulse of Tarquin seven hurts in the body. Shak.
2. Figuratively: Refusal; denial; rejection; failure.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for repulse; he lists it under drive.
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