- present participle of compel.
compelling
Americanadjective
-
tending to compel, as to force or push toward a course of action; overpowering.
There were compelling reasons for their divorce.
-
having a powerful and irresistible effect; requiring acute admiration, attention, or respect.
a man of compelling integrity; a compelling drama.
adjective
-
arousing or denoting strong interest, esp admiring interest
-
(of an argument, evidence, etc) convincing
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of compelling
Explanation
Compelling means attractive, or irresistible, or really, really convincing. You know your argument for backpacking across Europe is compelling when your parents not only let you go but also pay for all your expenses. To compel is to drive or force into action –– the way the fear of being grounded might compel you to come home before your curfew. A compelling argument compels you to agree with its logic –– it's irresistible. If you decide to run for class president, you'll need to write a compelling speech about why students should vote for you.
Vocabulary lists containing compelling
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25 Words from "Baseball and Black History"
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Word Generation Social Studies - Ancient Civilizations of Egypt, Greece, Rome
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But after years of deferred admission, can a new generation of students at Hillman College score high at delivering a compelling, modern take of the groundbreaking sitcom “A Different World”?
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
The telecom cycle creates a compelling narrative arc, with a rise, fall and ultimate redemption led by the smartphone.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
As mentioned last month, it’s dark, smart and compelling, and consistently takes a familiar plot setup into unexpected territory; it’s worth a binge.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026
Yet what made the contest so compelling was the growing sense that, even while Itauma was winning rounds, he was drifting closer to defeat.
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026
“You’ve presented a very compelling argument,” she says to me.
From "The Misfits" by James Howe
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
