compel

verb

com·pel kəm-ˈpel How to pronounce compel (audio)

compelled; compelling

transitive verb

: to drive or urge forcefully or irresistibly

Hunger compelled him to eat.

The general was compelled to surrender.

: to cause to do or occur by overwhelming pressure

Public opinion compelled her to sign the bill.

archaic : to drive together

compellable

kəm-ˈpe-lə-bəl How to pronounce compel (audio)

adjective

Did you know?

The prefix com- acts as a strengthener in this word; thus, to compel is to drive powerfully, or force. So you may feel compelled to speak to a friend about his drinking, or compelled to reveal a secret in order to prevent something from happening. A compulsion is usually a powerful inner urge; a compulsive shopper or a compulsive gambler usually can't hold onto money for long. You might not want to do something unless there's a compelling reason; however, a compelling film is simply one that seems serious and important.

Example Sentences

Illness compelled him to stay in bed. We took steps to compel their cooperation.

Recent Examples on the Web Questions about his mental abilities and his family’s poor social status drew sympathy, as well as accusations that Singapore’s strict laws may compel criminals to prey on the disadvantaged, using them as drug mules.

Feliz Solomon, WSJ, 2 Aug. 2022 Tensions are again on the rise amid a new government regulation that will compel people entering Kosovo with Serbian IDs to replace them with a temporary document during their stay there.

Bradford Betz, Fox News, 31 July 2022 The Secretary of State’s Office has no subpoena power, nothing that would compel the production of documents or other evidence, the procedure manual says.

Richard Ruelas, The Arizona Republic, 20 July 2022 Although neither of them do restrictive diets, these founders understand the social pressures that compel such performances.

Manvir Singh, Wired, 14 July 2022 But there are factors that compel the state to conform to the national party’s primary schedule.

Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2022 With the executive branch prepared to halt all school funding, the Legislature filed suit to compel payments according to the 2018 law.

James Brooks, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Aug. 2022 So far, Trump's attorneys are not planning legal action to compel production of these items.

Major Garrett, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2022 In addition to monetary demands, the lawsuit asked the court to compel the defendants to issue a formal apology to Black Americans.

Faith Karimi, CNN, 10 Aug. 2022 See More

compel

verb

as in to force

to cause (a person) to give in to pressure public opinion compelled her to fire her scandal-plagued aide

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

force
coerce
obligate
oblige
drive
impel
constrain
intimidate
pressure
impress
blackmail
make
press
bully
muscle
dragoon
threaten
sandbag
browbeat
blackjack
twist one's arm
terrorize
drag
bulldoze
hector
shame
harass
cow
badger
menace
hound
high-pressure

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

let
allow
permit
induce
convince
move
satisfy
argue
persuade
talk (into)
win (over)
prevail (on or upon)

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of compel are coerce, constrain, force, and oblige. While all these words mean "to make someone or something yield," compel typically suggests overcoming of resistance or unwillingness by an irresistible force.

compelled to admit my mistake

Although the words coerce and compel have much in common, coerce suggests overcoming resistance or unwillingness by actual or threatened violence or pressure.

coerced into signing over the rights

While the synonyms constrain and compel are close in meaning, constrain suggests the effect of a force or circumstance that limits freedom of action or choice.

constrained by conscience

In some situations, the words force and compel are roughly equivalent. However, force is the general term and implies the overcoming of resistance by the exertion of strength, power, or duress.

forced to flee for their lives

The words oblige and compel can be used in similar contexts, but oblige implies the constraint of necessity, law, or duty.

felt obliged to go

单词	compel
释义	compel verb com·pel kəm-ˈpel compelled; compelling transitive verb 1 : to drive or urge forcefully or irresistibly Hunger compelled him to eat. The general was compelled to surrender. 2 : to cause to do or occur by overwhelming pressure Public opinion compelled her to sign the bill. 3 archaic : to drive together compellable kəm-ˈpe-lə-bəl adjective Did you know? The prefix com- acts as a strengthener in this word; thus, to compel is to drive powerfully, or force. So you may feel compelled to speak to a friend about his drinking, or compelled to reveal a secret in order to prevent something from happening. A compulsion is usually a powerful inner urge; a compulsive shopper or a compulsive gambler usually can't hold onto money for long. You might not want to do something unless there's a compelling reason; however, a compelling film is simply one that seems serious and important. Synonyms blackjack coerce constrain dragoon drive force impel impress make muscle obligate oblige press pressure sandbag See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Illness compelled him to stay in bed. We took steps to compel their cooperation. Recent Examples on the Web Questions about his mental abilities and his family’s poor social status drew sympathy, as well as accusations that Singapore’s strict laws may compel criminals to prey on the disadvantaged, using them as drug mules. Feliz Solomon, WSJ, 2 Aug. 2022 Tensions are again on the rise amid a new government regulation that will compel people entering Kosovo with Serbian IDs to replace them with a temporary document during their stay there. Bradford Betz, Fox News, 31 July 2022 The Secretary of State’s Office has no subpoena power, nothing that would compel the production of documents or other evidence, the procedure manual says. Richard Ruelas, The Arizona Republic, 20 July 2022 Although neither of them do restrictive diets, these founders understand the social pressures that compel such performances. Manvir Singh, Wired, 14 July 2022 But there are factors that compel the state to conform to the national party’s primary schedule. Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2022 With the executive branch prepared to halt all school funding, the Legislature filed suit to compel payments according to the 2018 law. James Brooks, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Aug. 2022 So far, Trump's attorneys are not planning legal action to compel production of these items. Major Garrett, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2022 In addition to monetary demands, the lawsuit asked the court to compel the defendants to issue a formal apology to Black Americans. Faith Karimi, CNN, 10 Aug. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English compeller "to coerce, force, constrain," borrowed from Anglo-French compeller, borrowed from Latin compellere "to drive together, force to go, force (to a view, course of action)," from com- com- + pellere "to beat against, push, strike, rouse, impel" — more at pulse entry 1 First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Kids Definition compel verb com·pel kəm-ˈpel compelled; compelling 1 : to make (as a person) do something by the use of physical, moral, or mental pressure : force … so greatly did hunger compel him, he was not above taking what did not belong to him. Jack London, The Call of the Wild 2 : to make happen by force He compelled obedience. Legal Definition compel transitive verb com·pel kəm-ˈpel compelled; compelling : to cause to do or occur by overwhelming pressure and especially by authority or law cannot compel the defendant to testify the result…is compelled by, the original understanding of the fourteenth amendment's equal protection clause R. H. Bork compel verb as in to force to cause (a person) to give in to pressure public opinion compelled her to fire her scandal-plagued aide Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance force coerce obligate oblige drive impel constrain intimidate pressure impress blackmail make press bully muscle dragoon threaten sandbag browbeat blackjack twist one's arm terrorize drag bulldoze hector shame harass cow badger menace hound high-pressure Antonyms & Near Antonyms let allow permit induce convince move satisfy argue persuade talk (into) win (over) prevail (on or upon) See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of compel are coerce, constrain, force, and oblige. While all these words mean "to make someone or something yield," compel typically suggests overcoming of resistance or unwillingness by an irresistible force. compelled to admit my mistake Although the words coerce and compel have much in common, coerce suggests overcoming resistance or unwillingness by actual or threatened violence or pressure. coerced into signing over the rights While the synonyms constrain and compel are close in meaning, constrain suggests the effect of a force or circumstance that limits freedom of action or choice. constrained by conscience In some situations, the words force and compel are roughly equivalent. However, force is the general term and implies the overcoming of resistance by the exertion of strength, power, or duress. forced to flee for their lives The words oblige and compel can be used in similar contexts, but oblige implies the constraint of necessity, law, or duty. felt obliged to go
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compel

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

verb

Legal Definition

transitive verb

verb

Synonym Chooser