Actually, lone electron pairs repel more strongly than bonds. For example, if one examined a tetrahedral molecule (for example, CH4 or methane), it could be seen that all of the bonds measured 109.5 degrees. In a molecule with two bonds and two lone pairs, however (H2O, water for example), the bonds between the oxygen and the hydrogens make an angle of about 104.5 degrees. The angle is less in the second case because the two lone pairs exert a greater force on the bonded pairs.