How to Use repellent in a Sentence

repellent

1 of 2 adjective
  • The candle has a repellent effect on insects.
  • Keep kids safe from bug bites this summer with these repellent bracelets.
    — Kylee McGuigan, Popular Mechanics, 2 Aug. 2022
  • The aerosol repellent is easy to apply, and a little goes a long way.
    — Kevin Brouillard, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2023
  • But these mosquito repellent plants don't just waft that smell over the yard!
    — Christopher Michel, Country Living, 3 Apr. 2023
  • Wear hiking shoes, long sleeve clothing, and bring bug repellent.
    — Hartford Courant, 27 May 2022
  • Jane Don’t found the premise morally repellent.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Don’t use insect repellent on infants younger than 2 months old.
    — Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 31 July 2023
  • The canopy is made from a durable polyester fabric that guards against fading and is water-repellent.
    — Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 13 May 2022
  • The air smelled sweet and repellent, like a puttering campfire.
    — River Selby august 25, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2025
  • Some pretend the bear isn’t there at all and refuse to accept an effective spritz of bear repellent.
    — Rex Huppke, chicagotribune.com, 7 Jan. 2022
  • This repellent spectacle was hard to watch at the start of the pandemic.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 11 Aug. 2021
  • It’s made of heavy-duty polyester with a water-repellent coating and an extra durable base.
    — Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 29 July 2022
  • Proper repellent plays a huge role in understanding how to avoid ticks.
    — Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 10 Aug. 2022
  • Use repellent on your face by spraying it into your hands and then applying it with your fingers.
    — Kate Rockwood, Health, 19 Apr. 2023
  • But the effect is mostly repellent.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Water-repellent products are treated with a coating that will cause water to drip off.
    — Joel Balsam, Travel + Leisure, 28 Mar. 2023
  • In addition, use a strong insect repellent and apply it to your clothing.
    — Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 20 July 2023
  • Plus, the outside of the coat is made with polyester fabric that's water-repellent and wind-resistant.
    — Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE.com, 20 Jan. 2022
  • Its classic Chelsea slip-on is made from a water repellent suede that will keep you dry on all those wet, cold-weather days ahead.
    — Kristina Rutkowski, Harper's BAZAAR, 3 Jan. 2023
  • Do your best to plant deer-resistant types of plants, try repellent as an additional measure, and hope for the best.
    — Lauren Smith McDonough, House Beautiful, 24 Mar. 2023
  • It's made with polyester that has a durable water repellent finish to keep all your belongings protected.
    — Jamie Kim, Good Housekeeping, 26 July 2022
  • It's made of a durable and water-repellent polyester fabric with foam padding to protect the contents inside.
    — Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping, 24 June 2022
  • The ripstop shell is made of recycled polyester and coated with a water-repellent finish.
    — Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 23 Jan. 2023
  • But when those themes are about the structures that enable that violence, the whole enterprise just feels repellent.
    — Vulture, 28 Oct. 2022
  • But that other world is repellent and resists a viewer’s engagement.
    — Mick Lasalle, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Feb. 2024
  • The shorts are water repellent, feature a four-way stretch fabric and are abrasion-resistant.
    — Ellen McAlpine, menshealth.com, 6 May 2023
  • This head net adds even more protection as it's treated with insect repellent that’s good for up to 70 washes.
    — Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 26 May 2023
  • As with graphic violence, repellent characters don’t have to be a dealbreaker in a film like this one.
    — Katie Rife, IndieWire, 16 Mar. 2026
  • The outer shell has a water-repellent finish and there's drawcord hemline to prevent drafts from chilling you to the bone.
    — Amber Joglar, Popular Mechanics, 27 Jan. 2023
  • They can be worn alone or as a liner under heavier gloves, made from a stretchy polyester-elastane fabric, with a rain- and snow-repellent finish.
    — Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 15 Dec. 2022

repellent

2 of 2 noun
  • Coat the exterior with a water repellent.
  • Avoid spraying repellent on your face or any cuts on your skin.
    — Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 4 Aug. 2025
  • Some like to use neem oil sprays that act as an insect repellent, too.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 June 2026
  • Many swear by lavender as a repellent for clothes moths, too.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 24 May 2026
  • One of the best ways to keep them away from you is to apply a repellent to your skin.
    — Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Nov. 2022
  • The buds can be tempting to deer, but spray-on repellent can help keep them at bay.
    — Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 June 2020
  • Artemisia is used as a mosquito repellent in some parts of the world.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 May 2026
  • There are tons of mosquito repellents out there, and each one claims to do the best job.
    — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 27 June 2026
  • Here’s how to choose the best deer-repellent solution for your yard.
    — The Editors, Field & Stream, 18 Dec. 2019
  • Bug repellent, bear spray, and rain gear are sensible items to bring along.
    — Aaron Brandel, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2020
  • It also may have been used as an insect repellent.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Be sure to avoid tall grass while outdoors and use bug repellent on yourself and your pets.
    — Dennis Valera, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Valdes said the repellent might have been bear spray, which is more potent that pepper spray.
    — NBC News, 17 July 2021
  • Sunscreen isn’t a must, this late in the day, but insect repellent might come in handy.
    — al, 27 May 2021
  • Create a fly and wasp repellent.
    — Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The cost of it, however, is boots and bug repellent.
    — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Travelers can make or buy a spray to use on their suitcase that'll act as a repellent.
    — Elspeth Velten, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2023
  • Long sleeves and long pants used with a mosquito repellent helps to limit bites.
    — John Sharp | [email protected], al, 9 Sep. 2023
  • This repellent was also extremely greasy and took a while to dry.
    — Kai Burkhardt, CNN Underscored, 20 Aug. 2020
  • Our house is becoming a cemetery, but not in a repellent sense.
    — courant.com, 31 Oct. 2019
  • What are the best mosquito repellents to use?
    — Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Visual scares, noise, and repellents work best when used as part of a layered approach.
    — Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 24 May 2026
  • This insect repellent is low-odor, non-greasy, and can withstand some water.
    — Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2021
  • Don't allow a child 10 or younger to apply their own repellent.
    — The Enquirer, 27 June 2023
  • Mix this with other repellents.
    — Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 28 May 2026
  • The essential oil is a stronger repellent than the flowers.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 24 May 2026
  • Do bug-repellent wristbands work?
    — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
  • To be clear, anyone who buys a repellent is highly unlikely to need it.
    — Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 7 July 2023
  • These are the top natural rat repellents.
    — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Sep. 2025
  • What mosquito repellents are best to buy?
    — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'repellent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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