compelling

adjective

com·​pel·​ling kəm-ˈpe-liŋ How to pronounce compelling (audio)
: 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

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
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.
What started as a part-time gig and a family tradition is quickly becoming a compelling franchise opportunity in the landscaping industry. Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 3 May 2025 Weekend picks Lucie Faulknor/PBS Check out what NPR is watching, reading and listening to this weekend: 🍿 Movies: Free for All: The Public Library, a new PBS film, examines the value of libraries in the past and makes a compelling case for the importance of the American public library system today. Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 May 2025 And at the end of the day, there’s nothing more compelling than that. Danielle Cohen, Glamour, 2 May 2025 And educators started to research how to make learning through the radio more compelling and fun. Josh Shepperd, The Conversation, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for compelling

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of compel

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of compelling was in 1606

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Compelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compelling. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

Legal Definition

compelling

adjective
: that compels : tending to demand action or to convince
a compelling need for disclosure
a compelling argument

More from Merriam-Webster on compelling

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!