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.
—
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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As reported by The Athletic, an agreement for the 20-year-old Japan international was reached for £5million ($6.8m, 1billion Japanese yen), which represents a record fee for a player in the J League — the top division of Japanese football — moving overseas.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
8 July 2025
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Through the soil created by centuries of decomposing plant life, through rocks ground down by shifting rivers and slowly moving mountains.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
8 July 2025
Verb
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Over a century and a half after he was fooled and shoved into an airlock in the season-two finale, Day is not absolutely done with everything.—
Rafael Motamayor,
Vulture,
11 July 2025
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The order, issued July 10, follows evidence of over 35 incidents in which reporters were allegedly shoved, tear-gassed, shot with rubber bullets, or arrested while documenting protests in downtown Los Angeles throughout June.—
Amanda Castro
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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When Kate met William at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, she and her family, including siblings Pippa and James, were thrust into the public eye and entered the royal circle.—
Stephanie Petit,
People.com,
6 July 2025
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However, they were thrust into the public eye in April 2023 when a courier operating in the Fort Worth suburb of Colleyville sold the winning ticket for a $95 million Texas Lotto jackpot.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Verb
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When activated, the harpoon is ejected, penetrates under the skin, and venom is released.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
11 July 2025
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The Network then will activate its many participants to collaborate and engage together to advance solutions and designs of new processes, or mechanisms, or even technologies that are needed to not only benefit each individual employer organization but also the overall talent ecosystem.—
Ryan Stowers,
Forbes.com,
11 July 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 15 Jul. 2025.
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