repel vs defend

repel and defend both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
repel	No	No	Yes	No
defend	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, defend is a hypernym of repel; that is, defend is a word with a broader meaning than repel:

Other hypernyms of repel include fight, fight back, fight down, oppose.

repel (verb)	defend (verb)
reject outright and bluntly	argue or speak in defense of
force or drive back	state or assert
cause to move back by force or influence	be on the defensive; act against an attack
be repellent to; cause aversion in	protect against a challenge or attack
fill with distaste	protect or fight for as a champion
	fight against or resist strongly
	be the defense counsel for someone in a trial