1
as in to push
to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one
playfully he propelled his rambunctious friend into the swimming pool to cool off
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to drive
to set or keep in motion
the aircraft is propelled by a pair of turboprop engines
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of propel
Doncic made a 3-pointer and another foul shot to propel the Lakers to a 104-89 lead going into the fourth.
—
Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Powerful winds from the star's disk act like a cosmic conveyor belt, propelling the crystals into the frigid outer disk, where comets may eventually form, according to a statement from NASA.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The stock increased by 65%, propelled by an 85% rise in revenue and a 20% growth in its P/S multiple.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Cook County detectives said Avalos struck Simmons while driving through the intersection, causing Simmons to propel into the air and land a distance away.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for propel
Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Powerful winds from the star's disk act like a cosmic conveyor belt, propelling the crystals into the frigid outer disk, where comets may eventually form, according to a statement from NASA.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The stock increased by 65%, propelled by an 85% rise in revenue and a 20% growth in its P/S multiple.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Cook County detectives said Avalos struck Simmons while driving through the intersection, causing Simmons to propel into the air and land a distance away.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for propel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propel
Verb
-
Tennessee’s swim meet at Georgia and the USC Upstate women’s basketball game at Longwood were pushed to Friday from Saturday because of the forecast.—
John Raby,
Twin Cities,
23 Jan. 2026
-
However, if gas falls toward a supermassive black hole too quickly, radiation from the gas starts to push back on the material flowing behind it.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Violent confrontations targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minnesota are being driven by outside actors exploiting chaos, not organic protest, according to a protest insider warning that the situation is rapidly spiraling.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The driver then drove into the city of Wheat Ridge and allegedly crashed into a Honda Pilot near Pierce Street and West 32nd Avenue several minutes later before continuing on.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Spurs forward Julian Champagnie immediately shoved Vanderbilt as Fox remained between the players, trying to keep them separated.—
Oc Register,
Oc Register,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Fleury was shoved to the ice by Golden Knights winger Keegan Kolesar after sending a breakout pass and slid backward into the end boards.—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Sun Belt Conference preemptively shook up its women’s basketball schedule, moving around the start times on several games from Thursday through Saturday.—
John Raby,
Twin Cities,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Ukraine has also been frustrated by political disagreements within Europe over how to deal with Russia, as well as the bloc's at times slow-moving responses.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In Nix’s place, Payton told reporters that Stidham, who hasn’t thrown a pass since Week 18 of the 2023 season, would be thrust into starting action for this weekend’s AFC title game.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The documentary, which won a BAFTA and an Academy Award, thrust both its subject and the sport of free solo climbing—the act of ascending a cliff or mountain alone, without any ropes, harnesses or safety gear—into the spotlight.—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Neuroscience has long shown that watching another person experience pain activates the same neural regions as experiencing pain ourselves.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Propel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propel. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
