as in forced
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as in obliged
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
public opinion compelled her to fire her scandal-plagued aide
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of compelled
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
David K. Li, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026
Given his Day 3 status, the Panthers won’t feel compelled to rush him into starter duty.
—Mike Kaye
april 22, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2026
Anger, fear, and repulsion are so often compelled by objects of desire.
—Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
The film is less compelled to explain how that genius worked.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
What compelled you to write this memoir in essays?
—Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
How many people complained about this freaking sign to where a company like Nike felt compelled to take it down?
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Vendors are compelled to agree to Amazon's demands because of its dominant position in online retail, Bonta argued.
—Annie Palmer, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026
In a scathing order, Nunley laid out why he was compelled to take such a rare step.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
True personal data sovereignty requires systems that make compelled access technically impossible, not merely contractually discouraged.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
Shiver, who no longer works at Michigan, said she felt compelled to speak out so other young women are not caught in similar circumstances.
—David K. Li, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026
Given his Day 3 status, the Panthers won’t feel compelled to rush him into starter duty.
—Mike Kaye
april 22, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2026
Anger, fear, and repulsion are so often compelled by objects of desire.
—Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
The film is less compelled to explain how that genius worked.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
What compelled you to write this memoir in essays?
—Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
How many people complained about this freaking sign to where a company like Nike felt compelled to take it down?
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Vendors are compelled to agree to Amazon's demands because of its dominant position in online retail, Bonta argued.
—Annie Palmer, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026
In a scathing order, Nunley laid out why he was compelled to take such a rare step.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compelled
Adjective
-
In nearly every practical sense, these conditions mirror those faced by people in forced labor.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Some of the conversations, especially with the bench analysts, have been awkward and forced.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The astronauts obliged, returning detailed observations of Orientale.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Seeking an opportunity to be a full-time starter, Thompson requested a trade from the organization the following offseason, and general manager Kelly McCrimmon obliged, sending him to Washington.—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The third would allow survivors of coerced debt to formally challenge such obligations with a creditor, and the last would create a program to help survivors get home security to protect themselves from future harm.—
Lauren Linder,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
And despite widespread reporting about coerced conscription in Russia, Ukraine has engaged in the same practice, with some new recruits sent to the front without adequate training.—
Olivier Kempf,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
By 2021, Quinn was done engaging with Elliott on quarterly financial statements beyond what Neon was obligated to provide under the distribution agreement.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The system, starting up Monday, will refund tariffs directly to the businesses that paid them, which are not obligated to share the proceeds with customers.—
Mae Anderson,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Traffic stops represent the most common nonvoluntary interaction between citizens and police officers in the U.S.—
Derek Epp,
The Conversation,
3 Feb. 2023
-
Of the 59 CEOs who departed S&P 500 firms last year, 30.5% were let go on a nonvoluntary basis, up from 22.1% in 2017, according to the Conference Board's 2019 CEO Succession Practices report.—
Fortune,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Compelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compelled. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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