impel

verb

im·​pel im-ˈpel 

impelled; impelling

transitive verb

1

: to urge or drive forward or on by or as if by the exertion of strong moral pressure : force

felt impelled to correct the misconception

2

: to impart motion to : propel

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Impel vs Compel

Impel is very similar in meaning to compel, and often a perfect synonym, though it tends to suggest even more strongly an inner drive to do something and a greater urgency to act, especially for moral reasons. But when impel takes its noun and adjective forms, it changes slightly. So an impulse—such as "impulse buying", when you suddenly see something cool and know you've got to have it—often isn't based on anything very serious. And impulsive behavior in general, such as blurting out something stupid on the spur of the moment, is the kind of thing you're supposed to get over when you grow up.

Synonyms

• actuate
• drive
• move
• propel
• work

Choose the Right Synonym for impel

move, actuate, drive, impel mean to set or keep in motion.

move is very general and implies no more than the fact of changing position.

moved the furniture

actuate stresses transmission of power so as to work or set in motion.

turbines actuated by waterpower

drive implies imparting forward and continuous motion and often stresses the effect rather than the impetus.

a ship driven aground by hurricane winds

impel is usually figurative and suggests a great motivating impetus.

a candidate impelled by ambition

Examples of impel in a Sentence

His interest in the American Civil War impelled him to make repeated visits to Gettysburg.

She felt impelled to give a speech after the performance.

Recent Examples on the Web

These are questions Li rarely directly poses but which the reader is inevitably impelled to ask. —Daphne Merkin, New York Times, 18 May 2025

Powerful domestic pressures impel and constrain both countries’ foreign policy choices. —Lee Hsien Loong, Foreign Affairs, 4 June 2020

Questlove joins the latest edition of Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast to share his observations on what made Sly Stone great and what impelled him to tumble from the mountaintop of rock stardom. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 6 May 2025

Steven Pifer, a former American ambassador to Ukraine and one of the top nuclear proliferation experts in the U.S., says Zelensky likely aimed to impel NATO to open membership to Ukraine rather than actually start a clandestine atomic weapons program. —Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English impellen, from Latin impellere, from in- + pellere to drive — more at felt

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for impel

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

Kids Definition

impel

verb

im·​pel im-ˈpel 

impelled; impelling

: to urge or drive forward or into action

impeller

-ˈpel-ər

noun