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Repel vs Reflect - What's the difference?

repel | reflect |

As verbs the difference between repel and reflect

is that repel is to turn (someone) away from a privilege, right, job, etc while reflect is to bend back (light, etc.) from a surface.

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

    *

    reflect

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To bend back (light, etc.) from a surface.
  • A mirror reflects the light that shines on it.
  • To be bent back (light, etc.) from a surface.
  • The moonlight reflected from the surface of water.
  • To mirror, or show the image of something.
  • The shop window reflected his image as he walked past.
  • To be mirrored.
  • His image reflected from the shop window as he walked past.
  • To agree with; to closely follow.
  • Entries in English dictionaries aim to reflect common usage.
  • To give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
  • The team's victory reflects the Captain's abilities.
    The teacher's ability reflects well on the school.
  • *
  • With fresh material, taxonomic conclusions are leavened by recognition that the material examined reflects the site it occupied; a herbarium packet gives one only a small fraction of the data desirable for sound conclusions. Herbarium material does not, indeed, allow one to extrapolate safely: what you see is what you get
  • (senseid) To think seriously; to ponder or consider.
  • People do that sort of thing every day, without ever stopping to reflect on the consequences.
  • * 1985 , , Option Lock , page 229:
  • Not for the first time, he reflected that it was not so much the speeches that strained the nerves as the palaver that went with them.

    Synonyms

    * See also
    Derived terms
    * reflective * reflexion * unreflective * nonreflective * reflectorize