as in forced
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of compelled
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026
The appearance in New York marks the first time a former president has been compelled to testify before Congress under a subpoena.
—Maegan Vazquez, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2026
Republicans compelled the former secretary of state to testify; her husband, former President Bill Clinton will do so today.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Friday's deposition is the first time a former president has been compelled to testify before a congressional panel.
—Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
Former presidents have not successfully been compelled to testify before Congress in the past.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
Mack says she was compelled to contact the newspaper because her Indonesian criminal defense attorney is not being paid from her trust fund as ordered.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
Despite not having many suggestions, Swonk still feels compelled to document the numbers that suggest not all is well.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
The post underscored how persistently Black women are compelled to over-explain and accommodate for the purpose of accessibility.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 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
But a coroner can’t do that unilaterally, the NSW Coroner’s Court told CNN –– an inquest needs to be requested by police or a party with new evidence or compelled by the Supreme Court or the attorney general.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026
The appearance in New York marks the first time a former president has been compelled to testify before Congress under a subpoena.
—Maegan Vazquez, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2026
Republicans compelled the former secretary of state to testify; her husband, former President Bill Clinton will do so today.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Friday's deposition is the first time a former president has been compelled to testify before a congressional panel.
—Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
Former presidents have not successfully been compelled to testify before Congress in the past.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
Mack says she was compelled to contact the newspaper because her Indonesian criminal defense attorney is not being paid from her trust fund as ordered.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
Despite not having many suggestions, Swonk still feels compelled to document the numbers that suggest not all is well.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
The post underscored how persistently Black women are compelled to over-explain and accommodate for the purpose of accessibility.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compelled
Adjective
-
Lauren Saab adds that any sign with generic greetings tends to make an entry feel forced.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Klein is charged with conspiracy to commit forced labor, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.—
Ashley Carnahan,
FOXNews.com,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Its length was its first declaration of disrespect for those obliged to sit through it.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Western Illinois coach obliged, and Wagner made the team.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Deradicalization is equally vital—not as a coerced reeducation, but as part of a healing process that encompasses Israelis as well as Palestinians.—
Samer Sinijlawi,
The Atlantic,
13 Nov. 2025
-
Prosecutors retried one of the men, John Kogut – who had made a coerced confession to the murder – but he was acquitted.—
Lauren del Valle,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Broadcasters are not obligated to participate in the FCC's initiative, according to Carr's statement.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Christians are obligated to fast and abstain on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, as well as fast from meat on Fridays during Lent, according to Catholic Online.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
22 Feb. 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 1 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
