compelling
Americanadjective
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tending to compel, as to force or push toward a course of action; overpowering.
There were compelling reasons for their divorce.
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having a powerful and irresistible effect; requiring acute admiration, attention, or respect.
a man of compelling integrity; a compelling drama.
adjective
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arousing or denoting strong interest, esp admiring interest
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(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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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.
ASML, Europe's biggest tech firm by market value, said it saw "many compelling opportunities" in the Indian semiconductor sector.
From Barron's • May 16, 2026
What makes Reble compelling is her refusal to soften herself for wider consumption - she resists explaining, translating or flattening her world into something more familiar.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
The fateful way this guy kept coming back into my life was compelling, but it became so clear that he only valued one side of me.
From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026
What makes this trade even more compelling from Currie’s perspective is that this valuation/ investment discrepancy is occurring “at the exact moment supply has never been more constrained.”
From MarketWatch • May 15, 2026
“Mary Had a Little Lamb” is an almost 200-year-old song that remains compelling and still very popular today.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
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.
