compel

verb

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

compelled; compelling

transitive verb

: to drive or urge forcefully or irresistibly

Hunger compelled him to eat.

The general was compelled to surrender.

: to cause to do or occur by overwhelming pressure

Public opinion compelled her to sign the bill.

archaic : to drive together

compellable

kəm-ˈpe-lə-bəl How to pronounce compel (audio)

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.

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

单词	compels
释义	compel verb com·pel kəm-ˈpel 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 kəm-ˈpe-lə-bəl 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. Synonyms blackjack coerce constrain dragoon drive force impel impress make muscle obligate oblige press pressure sandbag See all Synonyms & Antonyms 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 Kids Definition compel verb com·pel kəm-ˈpel compelled; compelling 1 : to make (as a person) do something by the use of physical, moral, or mental pressure : force … so greatly did hunger compel him, he was not above taking what did not belong to him. Jack London, The Call of the Wild 2 : to make happen by force He compelled obedience. Legal Definition compel transitive verb com·pel kəm-ˈpel compelled; compelling : to cause to do or occur by overwhelming pressure and especially by authority or law cannot compel the defendant to testify the result…is compelled by, the original understanding of the fourteenth amendment's equal protection clause R. H. Bork compels verb present tense third-person singular of compel as in forces to cause (a person) to give in to pressure public opinion compelled her to fire her scandal-plagued aide Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance forces obligates coerces obliges drives impels constrains pressures intimidates impresses makes blackmails presses muscles bullies dragoons threatens sandbags blackjacks twists one's arm drags browbeats shames terrorizes cows bulldozes hectors menaces badgers harasses hounds high-pressures Antonyms & Near Antonyms allows permits lets induces argues satisfies moves convinces persuades prevails (on or upon) wins (over) talks (into) See More
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compel

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

verb

Legal Definition

transitive verb

verb