compel

[ kuhm-pel ]

/ kəmˈpɛl /

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See synonyms for: compel / compelled / compelling / compels on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), com·pelled, com·pel·ling.

to force or drive, especially to a course of action: His disregard of the rules compels us to dismiss him.

to secure or bring about by force.

to force to submit; subdue.

to overpower.

Archaic. to drive together; unite by force; herd.

verb (used without object), com·pelled, com·pel·ling.

to use force.

to have a powerful and irresistible effect, influence, etc.

OTHER WORDS FOR compel

1 constrain, oblige, coerce.

3 overpower, bend.

See synonyms for compel on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of compel

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English compellen, from Anglo-French or directly from Latin compellere “to crowd, force,” equivalent to com- com- + pellere “to push, drive”

synonym study for compel

3. Compel, impel agree in the idea of using physical or other force to cause something to be done. Compel means to constrain someone, in some way, to yield or to do what one wishes: to compel a recalcitrant debtor to pay; Fate compels us to face danger and trouble. Impel may mean literally to push forward, but is usually applied figuratively, meaning to provide a strong motive or incentive toward a certain end: Wind impels a ship. Curiosity impels me to ask.

OTHER WORDS FROM compel

com·pel·la·ble, adjectivecom·pel·la·bly, adverbcom·pel·lent, adjectivecom·pel·ler, noun

com·pel·ling·ly, adverbpre·com·pel, verb (used with object), pre·com·pelled, pre·com·pel·ling.un·com·pel·la·ble, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH compel

1. coerce, compel , constrain, force, oblige2. compel , impel (see synonym study at the current entry)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use compel in a sentence

Its precise, level tone and attention to detail lend his narratives a force and immediacy that compel our attention.
‘Eddie’s Boy,’ by Thomas Perry, continues the saga of a retired hit man who can’t escape his past|Bill Sheehan|November 29, 2020|Washington Post
All of this will complicate attempts by companies and other institutions to compel individuals to get a covid vaccine.
Can your boss make you get a COVID vaccine? Probably|Jeff|November 29, 2020|Fortune
When the next crisis occurs, federal agencies will feel compelled to rescue not only our financial system but also our leading banking-and-commercial conglomerates.
Why it would be a huge mistake to allow Big Tech firms to acquire banks|jakemeth|November 26, 2020|Fortune
Many public health experts have compared the effort to compel Americans to wear masks during the pandemic to the decades-long struggle to persuade people to wear seatbelts.
Two School Districts Had Different Mask Policies. Only One Had a Teacher on a Ventilator.|by Annie Waldman and Heather Vogell|November 23, 2020|ProPublica

Google was compelled to create a “search choice” screen for Android users upon setup of a new device.
Is Apple getting real about search and about to take on Google?|Greg Sterling|August 27, 2020|Search Engine Land
Was he not my son-in-law, my ancient friend, for 20 years the master of great Rome, for 30 years the compeller of victory?
Caesar and Cleopatra|George Bernard Shaw
But for all his incalculable indebtednesses, Wagner is the great initiator, the compeller of the modern period.
Musical Portraits|Paul Rosenfeld
Jupiter is denominated by Homer the compeller of clouds: Juno receives them, and remits them in showers to plants and animals.
Imaginary Conversations and Poems|Walter Savage Landor
Who, O Cloud-compeller, will do the slaughtering now, and into whose hand wilt thou put the shepherd's whip?
Quo Vadis|Henryk Sienkiewicz
A new use for carborundum was found during the war when Uncle Sam assumed the rôle of Jove as "cloud-compeller."
Creative Chemistry|Edwin E. Slosson

British Dictionary definitions for compel

compel

/ (kəmˈpɛl) /

verb -pels, -pelling or -pelled (tr)

to cause (someone) by force (to be or do something)

to obtain by force; exactto compel obedience

to overpower or subdue

archaic to herd or drive together

Derived forms of compel

compellable, adjectivecompellably, adverbcompeller, noun

Word Origin for compel

C14: from Latin compellere to drive together, from com- together + pellere to drive

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

compel

OTHER WORDS FOR compel

Origin of compel

synonym study for compel

OTHER WORDS FROM compel

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH compel

Words related to compel

How to use compel in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for compel

Derived forms of compel

Word Origin for compel