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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.

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 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

And yet, it’s rare to find a storefront that compels me to pause and look, as so few display anything other than exactly what is on the racks inside.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

That pushes refineries near bankruptcy and compels them to plead for exemptions, which anger the ethanol lobby.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025

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