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compel

verb

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

Choose the Right Synonym for compel

force, compel, coerce, constrain, oblige mean to make someone or something yield.

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

compel typically suggests overcoming of resistance or unwillingness by an irresistible force.

compelled to admit my mistake

coerce suggests overcoming resistance or unwillingness by actual or threatened violence or pressure.

coerced into signing over the rights

constrain suggests the effect of a force or circumstance that limits freedom of action or choice.

constrained by conscience

oblige implies the constraint of necessity, law, or duty.

felt obliged to go

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of compel was in the 14th century

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