compel

com·pel

verb \kəm-ˈpel\

com·pelledcom·pel·ling

Definition of COMPEL

transitive verb

1

: to drive or urge forcefully or irresistibly <hunger compelled him to eat>

2

: to cause to do or occur by overwhelming pressure <public opinion compelled her to sign the bill>

3

archaic : to drive together

— com·pel·la·ble \-ˈpe-lə-bəl\ adjective

Examples of COMPEL

1. Illness compelled him to stay in bed.
2. We took steps to compel their cooperation.

Origin of COMPEL

Middle English compellen, from Anglo-French compeller, from Latin compellere, from com- + pellere to drive — more at felt

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to COMPEL

Synonyms: blackjack, coerce, force, constrain, dragoon, drive, impel, impress, make, muscle, obligate, oblige, press, pressure, sandbag

Related Words: browbeat, bulldoze, bully, cow, hector, intimidate; blackmail, high-pressure, menace, shame, terrorize, threaten; drag; badger, harass, hound

Near Antonyms: allow, let, permit; argue, convince, induce, move, persuade, prevail (on or upon), satisfy, talk (into), win (over)

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See Synonym Discussion at force

Rhymes with COMPEL

band shell, barbell, Becquerel, Blackwell, bluebell, bombshell, bridewell, cadelle, cartel, chandelle, Chanel, clamshell, cormel, cornel, corral, cowbell, cupel, diel, dispel, doorbell, dry cell, dry well, dumbbell, duxelles, ear shell, eggshell, excel, expel, farewell, fat cell, foretell, fuel cell, gazelle, germ cell, Glaspell, gromwell, groundswell, half shell, handbell, hard sell, hard-shell, harebell, hotel, impel, indwell, inkwell, Jarrell, jurel, Kandel, lampshell, lapel, Mandel, marcel, maxwell, Maxwell, micelle, misspell, morel, motel, nacelle, nerve cell, Nobel, noel, nouvelle, nutshell, oil well, Orel, Orwell, outsell, pall-mall, Parnell, pastel, pell-mell, pixel, pointelle, Ponselle, presell, propel, quenelle, rakehell, rappel, Ravel, rebel, refel, repel, respell, retell, riel, rondel, Roswell, saurel, scalpel, seashell, sequel, sleigh bell, soft sell, soft-shell, solgel, speedwell, spinel, stairwell, star shell, stem cell, tooth shell, unsell, unwell, upwell, wind-bell