compelling

adjective

com·​pel·​ling kəm-ˈpe-liŋ 

: that compels: such as

a

: forceful

a compelling personality

a compelling desire

b

: demanding attention

for compelling reasons

The novel was so compelling that I couldn't put it down.

c

: convincing

no compelling evidence

compellingly adverb

Synonyms of compelling

• convincing
• conclusive
• strong

Examples of compelling in a Sentence

The novel was so compelling that I couldn't put it down.

He made a compelling argument.

I would need a very compelling reason to leave my job.

She had a compelling need to share what she had heard.

Recent Examples on the Web

Places like Kobe, Kanazawa, and Fukuoka offer standout food scenes, walkable neighborhoods, and compelling cultural attractions at noticeably lower prices, often with far fewer crowds. —Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026

The Royals have compelling data. —Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2026

Jared McCain was another compelling young acquisition for a team that wanted more 3-point shooting. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2026

Critical imagination is an invaluable tool for writing about people like Alice, who are compelling figures but exist only at the edges of the archive. —Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of compel

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for compelling

• bookselling
• dispelling
• excelling
• expelling
• foretelling
• impelling
• indwelling
• labelling
• marvelling
• misspelling
• modelling
• panelling

Legal Definition

compelling

adjective

: that compels : tending to demand action or to convince

a compelling need for disclosure

a compelling argument