Difference between repel and refuse

[doanngockhanh]

Test No. incompl/advan-22 "Quality Control", question 8

The sole purpose of this jacket is to ......... water and if you wear it in the rain and still get wet, it's useless.

(a) reject
(b) repulse
(c) repel
(d) return

Test No. incompl/advan-22 "Quality Control", answer 8

The sole purpose of this jacket is to repel water and if you wear it in the rain and still get wet, it's useless.

Correct answer: (c) repel

Your answer was: incorrect
The sole purpose of this jacket is to repulse water and if you wear it in the rain and still get wet, it's useless.
_________________________

Dear Sir,
Could you please explain more about why we use "repel" here instead of "repulse" or "reject"?
Thank you very much and Best regards

[Alan]

Repel means stop something sticking to something else. Repulse is a much stronger word in meaning suggesting fighting back as in war - one force repulsing another. Reject is simply refuse in the sense of not accepting a plan/idea/proposal.
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[doanngockhanh]

Thank you very much. I don't know how to show you my appreciation about this website. It's so wonderful!
Thanks again