as in to coerce
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
public opinion compelled her to fire her scandal-plagued aide
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of compel
More generally, soccer continues to grow in popularity in the US, and sporting events continue to compel people to watch live rather than on demand.
—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
This simple instruction compels the AI to scrutinize the request, proactively ask clarifying questions, and gather essential context.
—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
The question is whether the act will be enough to compel reform-resistant local governments to make the necessary changes to promote housing construction.
—
Christopher Calton,
Oc Register,
29 June 2026
In May, Jolie scored a victory of her own when Judge Pánuco determined that she was not required to provide Pitt's attorneys with access to 22 unredacted emails after previous rulings compelled her legal team to do so.
—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
27 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for compel
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
This simple instruction compels the AI to scrutinize the request, proactively ask clarifying questions, and gather essential context.
—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
The question is whether the act will be enough to compel reform-resistant local governments to make the necessary changes to promote housing construction.
—
Christopher Calton,
Oc Register,
29 June 2026
In May, Jolie scored a victory of her own when Judge Pánuco determined that she was not required to provide Pitt's attorneys with access to 22 unredacted emails after previous rulings compelled her legal team to do so.
—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
27 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for compel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compel
Verb
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Weger later insisted he had been coerced into making the confession.
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The decentralized group, created by 15-year-old Bradley Chance Cadenhead in Stephenville, targets children through social media, gaming platforms and messaging apps to coerce them into self-harm and sharing explicit content.
Verb
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Chisholm did not appear to go around and immediately erupted over the lack of an appeal, forcing Boone and first base coach Dan Fiorito to intervene.
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The competing corridors have left shippers confused, forcing vessels to navigate threats from sea mines, aerial drones and IRGC patrol boats.
Verb
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Parents feel obligated to provide their children with a certain standard of summer vacation, regardless of the actual cost.
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You are not obligated to carry everyone’s emotions, Sagittarius.
Verb
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His status as the game’s best secure, Messi lifted the trophy in a bisht that had been placed upon him — obliged to share his greatest triumph with the geopolitical forces that had brought the World Cup to the Middle East for the first time.
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Bedford Affordable would be obliged to ensure that at least 40% of the units are set aside for low-income residents, documents show.
Verb
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The abnormal heat has been driven by the onset of El Niño, a natural climate pattern characterized by unusually warm waters along the equatorial tropical Pacific Ocean.
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Congestion is difficult to predict, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, when driving behavior shifted and peak traffic hours spread out instead of sticking to the more uniform 9-to-5 workday.
Cite this Entry
“Compel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compel. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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