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

Choose the Right Synonym for compel

force, compel, coerce, constrain, oblige mean to make someone or something yield.

force is the general term and implies the overcoming of resistance by the exertion of strength, power, or duress.

forced to flee for their lives

compel typically suggests overcoming of resistance or unwillingness by an irresistible force.

compelled to admit my mistake

coerce suggests overcoming resistance or unwillingness by actual or threatened violence or pressure.

coerced into signing over the rights

constrain suggests the effect of a force or circumstance that limits freedom of action or choice.

constrained by conscience

oblige implies the constraint of necessity, law, or duty.

felt obliged to go

Examples of compel in a Sentence

Illness compelled him to stay in bed.

We took steps to compel their cooperation.

Recent Examples on the Web

In over 40 instances of strategic bombing from World War I to the first Gulf War in 1991, such barrages, whether concentrated and heavy or light and dispersed, never compelled civilians to take to the streets in any meaningful numbers to oppose their governments. —Robert A. Pape, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2025

In a time of scorching divisions, interviewees felt compelled by the call to act with collective spirit. —Talia Milgrom-Elcott, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

Two years ago, that performance compelled the front office to ship out Amed Rosario, Aaron Civale and Josh Bell at the trade deadline. —Zack Meisel, New York Times, 16 June 2025

Here’s the thing: the executive order is not necessarily enforceable, and the city can’t compel the federal government to act on its demands for more information on local immigration enforcement activity. —Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 12 June 2025

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

Rhymes for compel

• barbell
• bedwell
• befell
• bluebell
• bombshell
• bridewell
• capelle
• cartel
• carvel
• clamshell
• cogswell
• dispel

Kids Definition

compel

verb

com·​pel kəm-ˈpel 

compelled; compelling

1

: to cause to do something by the use of physical, moral, or mental pressure : force

illness compelled him to stay in bed

2

: exact entry 1, extort

compel obedience

compeller noun

compellingly

-ˈpel-iŋ-lē

adverb

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