ruh-PELD
/ɹəˈpɛld/
repelled is pronounced ruh-PELD (/ɹəˈpɛld/). Repelled is the past tense and past participle of repel, meaning to drive back or keep something away. In usage, it describes a force or reaction that pushes away, or feelings of aversion toward something. The word typically occurs in formal or recorded contexts, especially in descriptions of defense, reaction, or moral repulsion.
Repelled is the past tense and past participle of repel, meaning to drive back or keep something away. In usage, it describes a force or reaction that pushes away, or feelings of aversion toward something. The word typically occurs in formal or recorded contexts, especially in descriptions of defense, reaction, or moral repulsion.
"The militia repelled the attackers with coordinated defenses."
"Her calm, steady voice repelled the notion that she would panic."
"The spider’s web repelled moisture, keeping it dry in the rain."
Pronounce as ri-PELD with primary stress on the second syllable. US/UK/AU IPA: /rɪˈpɛld/ (US) or /rɪˈpeld/ (UK/AU). Start with a short, lax 'ri' then a clear 'pel' with a light 'ld' at the end. The 'p' is unaspirated after an unstressed vowel; the final 'ed' is pronounced as a light /d/ in this context. Visualize a quick, clean stop after /p/ and a softened /l/ before /d/ to keep it crisp.
Common errors: 1) Deleting the second vowel sound and saying /rɪˈpeld/ with a weak second syllable; 2) Slurring the /p/ and /l/ into one phoneme or turning /pɛ/ into a lax /pe/; 3) Over-articulating the final /ld/ into /ld/ as a separate cluster. Correction: keep a distinct /p/ stop after the first vowel, then land the /ɛ/ vowel clearly, and finish with a short /d/. Practice by isolating /p/ + /l/ sequence: /p/, lightly touch the tongue to alveolar ridge for /l/, then release into /d/.
US: /rɪˈpɛld/ with a slightly more open /ɛ/.UK/AU: /rɪˈpeld/ or /rɪˈpel.d/ with less rhoticity in some UK accents and a crisper /ɪ/ in AU. The main variation is the vowel quality in the stressed syllable: US favors /ɛ/ close to “bet”; UK/AU may have a tighter front vowel or a shorter duration. The final cluster /ld/ remains, but some UK speakers reduce the vowel before /l/ slightly, giving a more clipped quality. The rhoticity difference affects preceding vowel length subtly; overall the core is ri-PELD.
The difficulty centers on the coda cluster /ld/ after a stressed syllable and the short, lax vowel in the stressed syllable. Beginners often mis-handle the transition from /p/ to /l/ and produce a retroflex or overly prolonged /l/ sound. The mandible position shifts rapidly from a bilabial stop to an alveolar approximant before the final /d/. Focusing on releasing the /p/ cleanly into /l/ before /d/ helps. Practice with isolated /p/ + /l/ sequences and record for tempo accuracy.
Remember the pronunciation hinges on a crisp, two-morpheme rhythm: ri-PELLED. Keep the first vowel short and the second syllable strong but not elongated. Visualize the mouth starting with a small opening for /r/ and /ɪ/ (front of the mouth), then a firm /p/ stop, followed by a quick /ɛ/ vowel and a final /ld/ with a short, soft closing. This helps you avoid turning it into re-PEL-id or ri-PALLED.
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Repelled comes from repel, which traces to the Latin repellere, formed from re- (back) + pellere (to drive, push). The term entered English via Old French repeler, with senses evolving from “drive back” physically to “drive away” or “deter.” In the 16th–18th centuries, it extended to moral and emotional rejection (to repudiate or disgust), reflecting a broader metaphorical push-back. The particle -ed marks past tense or past participle usage. The root pellere also contributes to related words such as propulsion, expel, compel, and compelling. The earliest recorded senses appear in legal and military contexts where a defense or counter-action is described as repellent. Over time, “repelled” is used across domains—from science (repelled forces), to psychology (repelled by stimuli), to everyday narrative. The word’s core sense remains consistent: a force, action, or reaction that pushes something away, while the emotional shade ranges from defensive to morally opposed. First known use aligns with early modern English refinements of repel, with written attestations in court records and military chronicles where an opposing force is described as repelled.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "repelled" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "repelled"
-led sounds
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