The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Repulse \Re*pulse"\, n. [L. repulsa, fr. repellere, repulsum.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. The act of repelling or driving back; also, the state of
      being repelled or driven back.
      [1913 Webster]

            By fate repelled, and with repulses tired. --Denham.
      [1913 Webster]

            He received in the repulse of Tarquin seven hurts in
            the body.                             --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Figuratively: Refusal; denial; rejection; failure.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Repulse \Re*pulse"\ (r?-p?ls"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Repulsed
   (-p?lst"); p. pr. & vb. n. Repulsing.] [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.
      [1913 Webster]

            Complete to have discovered and repulsed
            Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend. --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To repel by discourtesy, coldness, or denial; to reject;
      to send away; as, to repulse a suitor or a proffer.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

repulse
    n 1: an instance of driving away or warding off [syn: rebuff,
         snub, repulse]
    v 1: force or drive back; "repel the attacker"; "fight off the
         onslaught"; "rebuff the attack" [syn: repel, repulse,
         fight off, rebuff, drive back]
    2: be repellent to; cause aversion in [syn: repel, repulse]
       [ant: appeal, attract]
    3: cause to move back by force or influence; "repel the enemy";
       "push back the urge to smoke"; "beat back the invaders" [syn:
       repel, drive, repulse, force back, push back, beat
       back] [ant: attract, draw, draw in, pull, pull in]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

204 Moby Thesaurus words for "repulse":
   abjuration, abjure, abjurement, backfire, backlash, backlashing,
   bafflement, balk, be proof against, bear up, bear up against,
   beat back, beat off, block, boomerang, bounce, bound, brush aside,
   brush off, brush-off, carom, challenge, chase, chase away,
   chase off, check, checkmate, chuck, chuck out, chucking,
   chucking out, cold shoulder, cold-shoulder, combative reaction,
   complaint, confusion, contemn, contempt, contradict, contradiction,
   contrecoup, counter, counteraction, cut, cut direct, declination,
   decline, declining, defiance, defy, demur, denial, deny, despisal,
   despise, despising, disapproval, disapprove, discard, disclaim,
   disclamation, discomfiture, discount, discounting, disdain,
   dismiss, dismissal, disown, disownment, dispute, disregard,
   dissent, dissentience, drive away, drive back, endure, except,
   exception, exclude, exclusion, fend, fend off, flat refusal, foil,
   forswear, fractiousness, frustration, high-hat, hinder,
   hold at bay, hold off, hold out, hold up, humiliation, ignore,
   ignoring, keep at bay, keep off, kick, kickback, nauseate,
   negativism, nonacceptance, nonapproval, nonconsideration,
   noncooperation, not receive, objection, obstinacy, obstruct,
   opposition, pack off, parry, pass by, pass up, passing by,
   passive resistance, point-blank refusal, protest, push aside,
   push back, put back, putting away, putting out, reaction, rebound,
   rebuff, rebut, recalcitrance, recalcitrancy, recalcitration,
   recant, recantation, recoil, refractoriness, refusal, refuse,
   refuse to consider, refuse to receive, reject, rejection, reluct,
   reluctance, remonstrance, renitence, renitency, renounce,
   renouncement, repel, repellence, repellency, repercussion,
   repudiate, repudiation, repulsion, resilience, resist, resistance,
   reversal, reverse, revolt, ricochet, rout, scout, scouting,
   send away, send off, send packing, setback, short shrift,
   shove away, sicken, slight, sneer, sniff, snort, snub, spring,
   spurn, spurning, stand, stand up, stave off, stop,
   summary negative, the cold shoulder, the go-by, throw away,
   throw out, throwing out, thrust back, turn aside, turn away,
   turn away from, turn back, turn down, turn out, turning out,
   uncooperativeness, upstage, waive, ward off, withstand,
   withstanding