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Repel vs Defeat - What's the difference?

repel | defeat |

As verbs the difference between repel and defeat

is that repel is to turn (someone) away from a privilege, right, job, etc while defeat is to overcome in battle or contest.

As a noun defeat is

the act of defeating or being defeated.

repel

English

Verb

(repell)
  • * , II.3.7:
  • It is some satisfaction to him that is repelled , that dignities, honours, offices, are not alwayes given by desert or worth, but for love, affinitie, friendship, affection, great mens letters, or as commonly they are bought and sold.
  • To reject, put off (a request, demand etc.).
  • To ward off (a malignant influence, attack etc.).
  • To drive back (an assailant, advancing force etc.).
  • * 2011 , Ian Traynor, The Guardian , 19 May 2011:
  • In nearby Zintan, rebels repelled an advance by Gaddafi's forces, killing eight and taking one prisoner, a local activist said.
  • (physics) To force away by means of a repulsive force.
  • To cause repulsion, cause dislike.
  • * 2008 , The Guardian , 26 Jan 2008:
  • However, while the idea of a free holiday appeals enormously, I am frankly repelled by the idea of spending a couple of weeks in your company.
  • (sports) To save (a shot).
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=December 10, author=David Ornstein, work=BBC Sport
  • , title= Arsenal 1-0 Everton , passage=Arsenal pressed forward again after half-time but other than a venomous Walcott shot that Howard repelled with a fine one-handed save, the hosts offered little cutting edge.}}

    Synonyms

    *

    Antonyms

    * attract

    Anagrams

    *

    defeat

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To overcome in battle or contest.
  • Wellington defeated Napoleon at Waterloo.
  • To reduce, to nothing, the strength of.
  • * Tillotson
  • He finds himself naturally to dread a superior Being that can defeat all his designs, and disappoint all his hopes.
  • * A. W. Ward
  • In one instance he defeated his own purpose.
  • To nullify
  • * Hallam
  • The escheators defeated the right heir of his succession.

    Synonyms

    (To overcome in contest) * beat * conquer * overthrow * rout * vanquish

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of defeating or being defeated.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2012 , date=May 13 , author=Alistair Magowan , title=Sunderland 0-1 Man Utd , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Two defeats in five games coming into this contest, and a draw with Everton, ultimately cost Sir Alex Ferguson's side in what became the most extraordinary finale to the league championship since Arsenal beat Liverpool at Anfield in 1989.}}