- present tense form of compel (3rd person singular).
compels
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.
There are few artists, let alone individuals of any stripe, whose loss compels a national day of mourning.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
Insurers could still step in for 2028, but nothing compels them to, and they balked once for a simple reason: Covering this category pushes premiums higher for everyone.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
A subpoena compels a party to release specified internal documents or information.
From BBC ● May 27, 2026
The written word compels you to think and a heightened conscience is one of the essential elements required to bring about change.
From Barron's ● May 21, 2026
“It should be clear,” Kennedy wrote, “that United States Government action regarding the Alabama schools will come only if Governor Wallace compels it.”
From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry
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