Synonyms of compelled

compelled 1 of 2

adjective

as in forced

Related Words

• forced
• coerced
• unwilled
• nonvoluntary
• involuntary
• enforced
• will-less
• compulsory
• mandatory
• required
• necessary
• ordered
• obligatory
• nonelective

Dissimilar Words

• willing
• voluntary
• volunteer
• volitional
• optional
• discretionary
• uncoerced
• elective
• unforced
• self-imposed
• spontaneous
• instinctive
• freewill
• impulsive
• unpremeditated

compelled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of compel

as in obliged

to cause (a person) to give in to pressure

public opinion compelled her to fire her scandal-plagued aide

Synonyms & Similar Words

• forced
• obliged
• obligated
• coerced
• drove
• pressured
• impelled
• constrained
• pressed
• intimidated
• impressed
• blackmailed
• dragooned
• made
• bullied
• muscled
• sandbagged
• blackjacked
• threatened
• cowed
• hectored
• browbeat
• dragged
• shamed
• badgered
• twisted one's arm
• menaced
• terrorized
• bulldozed
• harassed
• hounded
• high-pressured

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• let
• allowed
• permitted
• convinced
• moved
• induced
• satisfied
• argued
• won (over)
• persuaded
• talked (into)
• prevailed (on or upon)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of compelled

Adjective

The second argument made by the DOJ was a First Amendment argument, specifically what is called compelled speech. — Stefani Langehennig, The Conversation, 9 July 2026

True personal data sovereignty requires systems that make compelled access technically impossible, not merely contractually discouraged. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026

Verb

Why are certain people compelled toward any of these reckless, perilous, barely possible feats? — Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026

Some were excellent in ways that surprised me and compelled me to see more, some were familiar or forgettable, and others even at just a few minutes in length felt unbearably long. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026

Reddington has argued that Clancy was in the throes of postpartum psychosis at the time the children were killed, and she was compelled to act on auditory hallucinations commanding her to carry out the killings. — Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026

One subpoena demanded Black produce nondisclosure agreements and other documents, while the other compelled him to return for a deposition before the committee. — Joey Cappelletti, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Goodness knows what happened there and what circumstances compelled him to write that Instagram post, but his future at Spurs now looks untenable. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026

This time, her strong opposition to socialism has compelled a vote for Matsui. — Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Management also gave positive forward-looking guidance, marked by a record current quarter pipeline that compelled it to raise its full-year top-line growth forecast. — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026

Several witnesses compelled to testify Even 30 years later, several people were still unwilling to break the code of the streets. — Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026