- 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
It is, as yet, a dud — a $2,000 slot machine that pays out a Community Note dressed as a verdict, in a process that compels nothing and binds no one.
From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2026
It can be done by changing the content of communication, by making a message so memorable that it sticks in someone’s mind and compels them to action.
From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell
