How to Use compel in a Sentence

compel

verb

• Illness compelled him to stay in bed.
• We took steps to compel their cooperation.
• Everyone knew the words and felt compelled to join in on the fun.
  — Ben Crandell, sun-sentinel.com, 16 Nov. 2019
• For a large part of my life, I felt compelled to pick at my zits.
  — Emily Gaudette, SELF, 15 Apr. 2019
• That compelled her to throw her hat into the ring against Knight.
  — Jeffrey Mervis, Science | AAAS, 15 June 2018
• Grief over her death compelled me to leave my longtime home on the N.C. coast.
  — Liz Biro, Indianapolis Star, 7 Apr. 2020
• For the non-car people, they will be compelled by the back story.
  — Charles Fleming, latimes.com, 27 Apr. 2018
• More recently, the Jets felt compelled to jump three slots to snag the No.
  — Dan Bickley, azcentral, 22 Mar. 2018
• That said… The main concern is that the new kids on the block seem compelled to record and share their antics.
  — The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Aug. 2023
• The older players see it and have to be compelled to stay on top of their games.
  — Susan Miller Degnan, miamiherald, 5 Nov. 2017
• When the elite fail to lead, grassroots movements must compel them to do so.
  — Paul Laudicina, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2022
• But with a tip section still on the receipt, Mr. Ellsworth felt compelled to tip.
  — Ali Martin, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Sep. 2023
• But there has to be a present-day urgency compelling the return to the past.
  — Cressida Leyshon, The New Yorker, 31 July 2023
• Imperati filed a motion to compel him to turn over the filings.
  — Kelan Lyons, courant.com, 5 Nov. 2020
• The crushing new wave of attacks appear to have compelled the rebels to accept the deal.
  — Bassem Mroue, Fox News, 6 July 2018
• If the residence doesn’t meet city code, the city can compel the landlord to fix the issues.
  — Nyssa Kruse, Arkansas Online, 23 Nov. 2020
• And Christians do not have to power to compel us to believe.
  — David Harsanyi, National Review, 17 Nov. 2020
• The board has no power to ask or compel Lowery to resign.
  — Michael Williams, Dallas News, 24 Aug. 2023
• Bolstered by the response, he was compelled to rush out the song as his new single.
  — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2023
• Lebanon filed suit last month in an effort to compel Wolf to release the funding.
  — USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2020
• This transit can compel us to act first and think later.
  — Venus Australis, refinery29.com, 5 Apr. 2020
• August-October is the best time to go, just in case you are compelled to book a flight now.
  — Danielle Pointdujour, Essence, 17 July 2019
• Being a first-grade teacher for many years and a mother of six, I felt compelled to send it to you.
  — Heloise, Houston Chronicle, 3 June 2018
• Maybe the court will compel the Department of Mental Health to help him.
  — Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2024
• And what of the government’s power to compel service in wartime?
  — al, 11 Sep. 2021
• Her characters come alive and compel you to take sides.
  — Steve West, sun-sentinel.com, 3 June 2021
• After Lauren moved away, the phrase was a prod to compel her to come back at least once every year.
  — Greg Borowski, jsonline.com, 20 Dec. 2019
• Still other moments compel us to write just to say thank you for being a friend.
  — Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 29 Jan. 2018
• Toran, who is black, noticed the retirement and was compelled to write.
  — Greg Moore, azcentral, 8 June 2019
• The images compel us to ponder our place within that world.
  — John Zotos, Dallas News, 9 July 2020

Last Updated: 22 Apr 2024