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
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2
as in to move
to set or keep in motion
the aircraft is propelled by a pair of turboprop engines
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of propel
Queen will be remembered fondly for his fadeaway bank shot just before the buzzer sounded that sealed a 72-71 victory over Colorado State and propelled the Terps (27-9, 14-6 Big Ten) to their first Sweet 16 since 2016.
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Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2025
Tucker has been a key part of the Cubs' success this season and seems likely to propel a return to the playoffs after a four-year drought for the franchise.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025
The promise of taxing the rich to fund social services propelled Zohran Mamdani to victory in Tuesday’s New York City Democratic mayoral primary.
—Daniel Wortel-London, New York Daily News, 26 June 2025
What Is Happening In China's Property Market? China's property market has propelled the country's explosive economic growth over the past few decades, single-handedly lifting hundreds of millions of Chinese people out of poverty and into the middle class.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for propel
Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2025
Tucker has been a key part of the Cubs' success this season and seems likely to propel a return to the playoffs after a four-year drought for the franchise.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025
The promise of taxing the rich to fund social services propelled Zohran Mamdani to victory in Tuesday’s New York City Democratic mayoral primary.
—Daniel Wortel-London, New York Daily News, 26 June 2025
What Is Happening In China's Property Market? China's property market has propelled the country's explosive economic growth over the past few decades, single-handedly lifting hundreds of millions of Chinese people out of poverty and into the middle class.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for propel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propel
Verb
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Both pushed the limits of convention, examined the complex relationship between clothes and the body, and brought historical dress into their work.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
1 July 2025
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McCarty’s pushback comes despite him pushing for a similar countywide joint powers authority to oversee homelessness while in the Assembly.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
1 July 2025
Verb
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Wales have done well under Wilkinson to move away from a hardened reputation as being Fishlock’s team and become more of a sum of their parts.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
27 June 2025
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The rash traditionally starts at the hairline and moves its way down the body, according to Pan.—
Rong-Gong Lin II,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2025
Verb
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The Detroit Pistons did it year after year, deploying a defensive scheme that involved trapping him over and over, shoving him through screens, bullying him through picks, sending two or three bodies on him, and knocking him off balance, off his shot, off his cool.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
22 June 2025
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Combined with the mandatory fawning sycophancy required of everyone in his orbit, the President fits the profile of an emotionally insecure man whose bluster collapses when push comes to shove.—
Doug McIntyre,
Oc Register,
22 June 2025
Verb
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Preventing the spread of marijuana laced with chemicals is one of the driving factors behind Tyson's push for federal reform.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2025
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Official data from April show that the number of Canadians driving across the border had dropped 35 percent from the previous year.—
Stephen Marche,
The Atlantic,
1 July 2025
Verb
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When a harrowing incident forces Wash to flee, he is thrust into a globe-spanning adventure that challenges and reshapes his understanding of family, freedom, and love.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
24 June 2025
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After an accident forces him to flee, he is thrust into a globe-spanning adventure that challenges and reshapes his understanding of family, freedom and love.—
Leia Mendoza,
Variety,
24 June 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, in suburban Cook County, three courthouses — in Skokie, Maywood and Markham — were activated as 24/7 cooling centers from June 21 to June 24 in response to the heat advisory.—
Lily Carey,
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2025
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Known as the ram air turbine, it can also be manually activated.—
Mika Gröndahl,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
Verb
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Takashi Shimura beautifully portrays Kanji Watanabe, an aging bureaucrat with stomach cancer who is impelled to find meaning in his final days.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
9 June 2025
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Four years later, a toxic waste spill led the mine to close altogether, and intense Chinese competition impelled the decision not to reopen.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Propel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propel. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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