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compels

VERB

force to act

Synonyms

STRONGEST

constrain enforce exact impel necessitate oblige urge

STRONG

bulldoze coerce concuss dragoon drive hustle make restrain squeeze

WEAK

crack down make necessary put the arm on put the chill on shotgun throw weight around turn on the heat

Antonyms

STRONGEST

dissuade

STRONG

discourage halt leave alone stop

WEAK

block check delay deter hinder impede obstruct

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.

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

Shameful pride compels me to say there are only about 300 players in the Hall of Fame.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

Fragmentation compels banks and asset managers to localize balance sheets and hold excess capital, constraining cross-border intermediation and dampening growth.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 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